Breaking: John Edwards verdict imminent; Update: Edwards not guilty on one count, jury deadlocked on others; Update: Mistrial declared; Video: Edwards speaks
posted at 2:41 pm on May 31, 2012 by Allahpundit
At long last, after nine days of deliberations, an answer to the question on everyone’s mind: Er, why was this guy on trial again?
Actually, regardless of the verdict, I’m not sure we’re going to get that answer.
Edwards, a former Democratic U.S. senator and presidential nominee, was charged with accepting illegal campaign contributions, falsifying documents and conspiring to receive and conceal the contributions. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine…
Prosecutors said Edwards “knowingly and willingly” accepted almost $1 million from two wealthy donors to hide former mistress Rielle Hunter and her pregnancy, then concealed the donations by filing false and misleading campaign disclosure reports…
Prosecutors argued that Edwards knowingly violated campaign finance laws by accepting the large contributions from Rachel Mellon and Fred Baron that went to support Hunter. Edwards “knew these rules well,” Higdon said, and should have known that the contributions violated campaign finance laws.
A VP at the Center for Competitive Politics comments:
If Edwards is successfully prosecuted, we may be entering an “Alice in Wonderland” world, where conduct that would not draw the ire of civil law enforcement can lead to prison. Because Edwards could be convicted for taking a contribution that the Federal Election Commission, which regulates campaign finance, wouldn’t even regard as a political donation.
This could happen if the jury, following the judge’s final instructions, issued Friday, finds as a “fact” that the money given by Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, which Edwards and his associates used to hide his mistress, was given for “a purpose” of influencing a federal election. That purpose could be one of several purposes.
How in the world a jury – or, frankly, anyone – could say what another person’s purpose in doing anything is astonishing. It also flies in the face of settled constitutional law.
Updates are coming. Stand by.
Update: I thought the protracted deliberations meant we were headed for a hung jury, but now I’m thinking it probably means that he’ll be acquitted of the most serious charges at least.
Update: Hold the phone — looks like they might be more or less hung after all. CNN says they’ve reached a unanimous verdict on only one count out of six; the judge, apparently, has ordered them to get back to work on the others. Hoo boy.
Wondering now what’ll happen if he’s convicted on that count and they deadlock on the rest. Will the prosecution retry him given the heat they’ve taken for going after him this time and knowing that the next jury is likely to have a hard time too? Or will they take the conviction on a single count as a consolation prize and walk away?
Update: Edwards’s lawyers have asked for a mistrial. Tick tock.
Update: The prosecution officially has a “situation” on its hands. From ABC’s Rick Klein:
Edwards NOT GUILTY on Count 3; jury hung on all others
What do you do now if a mistrial is declared on the other five counts? You’ve already been embarrassed on one of the counts and have no assurances at all that a new jury will even reach a verdict on the others, let alone convict. Time for them to cut their losses and lick their wounds?
Update: Per ABC’s banner headline, a mistrial has been declared. I’d bet heavily that the prosecution throws in the towel instead of scheduling a rematch.
Update: Via Fox News Insider, here’s the man himself after the verdict reflecting on his moral failings and professing his love for the child whose paternity he once denied on national television. Two words: Edwards 2016?
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Not guilty !!
burrata on May 1, 2013 at 7:23 PM
We’re talking east coast blue state trash here, don’t be surprised if the savage walks.
Bishop on May 1, 2013 at 7:23 PM
The Sermon on the Mount was a long time ago.
fourdeucer on May 1, 2013 at 7:25 PM
Could be bad sign. Might have a bleeding leftard in there.
Schadenfreude on May 1, 2013 at 7:26 PM
Devil(s) Among Us.
preallocated on May 1, 2013 at 7:26 PM
Dr. Democrat is pure evil.
Flange on May 1, 2013 at 7:27 PM
That is in no way inconceivable in Obamamerica. In fact, I would be mildly surprised if they convicted him of anything more than some administrative violations.
AUINSC on May 1, 2013 at 7:27 PM
He should also be facing a charge of first degree felony ugly.
VorDaj on May 1, 2013 at 7:27 PM
If this guy walks, Katy bar the door on the horrors to come.
Cindy Munford on May 1, 2013 at 7:27 PM
Weren’t most all of the babies he killed African America? Does Obama’s silence mean he hates African Americans? Sure seems so.
VorDaj on May 1, 2013 at 7:29 PM
You’re right.
A very important precedent will be set.
portlandon on May 1, 2013 at 7:30 PM
There’s going to be a mistrial due to a hung jury. One rabidly pro-abortion holdout.
merlich on May 1, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Not that we’ve not decayed enough as a society to produce more than one moron in any group of 12, but I’ve always felt like a unanimous verdict was a step too far. If 11 of 12 people agree on someone’s guilt (yes, including mine) that seems like a high enough standard. Making all justice subject to the requirement that none of the 12 are complete morons seems risky, especially in the wake of an Obama re-election.
SoRight on May 1, 2013 at 7:32 PM
If he does walk we will have entered that place where evil can no longer be recognized as evil.
fourdeucer on May 1, 2013 at 7:32 PM
All it takes is one sexually liberated woman on the jury to vote “not guilty” across the board.
Just one.
What are the odds at least one juror decided this case the instant he/she was selected for jury duty?
BobMbx on May 1, 2013 at 7:33 PM
Could these people be dumber than the OJ Jury?
Perhaps
SparkPlug on May 1, 2013 at 7:35 PM
Best case scenario: He’s guilty as sin, just haggling over what charges he’s guilty of.
Worst case: Holdouts related to thuja.
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 7:35 PM
Desperately attempting to take this as a good sign.
And praying a lot.
pambi on May 1, 2013 at 7:35 PM
Yep
gophergirl on May 1, 2013 at 7:36 PM
Probably due to the heavy politicization of the case by the anti woman/ tea party movement.
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 7:37 PM
Given that he’s 72, I’d expect him to die in prison anyway. Just make the sentences consecutive.
rbj on May 1, 2013 at 7:37 PM
So lets say this happens. Mother goes into the clinic, asks for an abortion. Doctor says okay, sticks the scissors in there and snips the spinal cord, then the terminated fetus is delivered and disposed of.
Lets compare that to this situation: Mother goes into the clinic, asks for an abortion, Doctor says okay. Doctor delivers the fetus, snips the spinal cord, and then disposes of the fetus.
I don’t know if there are any pro choicers hanging around here, but would someone like to explain to me why one of these situations is morally reprehensible and illegal and why they have no problem with the other one? We’re talking the same set of actions, the only difference is the order of those actions. Personally I consider both situations equally reprehensible and think both should be illegal, but so long as late term abortion (scenario 1) is legal, wouldn’t it make sense, from a legal and moral perspective, that the same set of actions in a different order (Scenario 2, or what Gosnell does) is legal as well? Either both should be legal or both should be illegal, but there should be some consistency here either way.
vegconservative on May 1, 2013 at 7:38 PM
G-d help us and our country if Gonsell get off.
Lance Murdock on May 1, 2013 at 7:40 PM
They must be liberals then, because juries are supposed to follow the letter of the law and not political biases.
melle1228 on May 1, 2013 at 7:40 PM
He might die sooner rather than later. They apparently have him in confinement. It seems that felons don’t take kindly to child killers..
melle1228 on May 1, 2013 at 7:41 PM
He’s gonna walk. The defense gets to mold the jury, they only need one, and I’m sure it wasn’t hard to find someone who agrees that they’re just persecuting a black man for providing abortion (which is like a sacrament in that hood).
HitNRun on May 1, 2013 at 7:42 PM
So felons have a stronger moral code than some liberals. Hmmmmm
gophergirl on May 1, 2013 at 7:43 PM
VorDaj on May 1, 2013 at 7:29 PM
he didn’t kill ‘African-American’ babies…he killed future US citizen who were black!
Those babies weren’t killed in Africa-they were murdered HERE!!!
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 7:44 PM
Juries are supposed to be sequestered and not reading the news.
Timin203 on May 1, 2013 at 7:44 PM
PS: If they do get him, it will be only because he pickled baby feet. That proves he’s “ebil.” No way would they get him for the infanticide without all the crazy torture chamber —-.
Well Christ, I know what to do if I ever kill someone then.
HitNRun on May 1, 2013 at 7:44 PM
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 7:37 PM
I”M A WOMAN-and the evil bastard deserves to have done to him what he did to those babies! Equal rights for unborn women!
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 7:46 PM
Abort him.
Electrongod on May 1, 2013 at 7:46 PM
Yeah, he’s going to walk. The jury is mostly women. The defense is bound to have planted at least one rabid pro-death juror. Probably a minority. Probably a client of an abortion mill at some time. Probably sees the prosecution as race-based persecution.
I hope I’m wrong but I’ll bet you I’m more right than not.
Happy Nomad on May 1, 2013 at 7:47 PM
Many of the killed babies were female. So its the libs who are anti-female.
SparkPlug on May 1, 2013 at 7:48 PM
Many of the killed babies were female. So its the libs who are anti-female.
SparkPlug on May 1, 2013 at 7:48 PM
See my comment.
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 7:49 PM
You say with tongue firmly planted in cheek?
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 7:50 PM
How does the right to privacy extend to anything outside of the womb (with or without viability)? If the fetus/baby is already removed from the womb, then why does the woman have the right to choose? She has absolutely no interest at play at that point.
blammm on May 1, 2013 at 7:51 PM
You say with tongue firmly planted in cheek?
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 7:50 PM
‘Fraid not.
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 7:53 PM
Gosnell is a monster who collected babies feet in jars as trophies. No matter how this turns out… the LEFT is stuck with him… and deservedly so.
It would be fitting justice if those on the left who support this monster and his activities were reminded of him and those jars every time they see babies or baby booties.
thatsafactjack on May 1, 2013 at 7:53 PM
She doesn’t, but a welfare queen who’s gotten an earful of a Johnnie Cochran act isn’t going to convict on the merits of the case, if she can even read the merits of the case.
HitNRun on May 1, 2013 at 7:53 PM
Last night on Hannity Tamara Holder attacked Lila Rose pretty similar to hotairlib attacking Tea Party.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Tamara+Holder+attacks+Lila+Rose+on+Hannity&mid=EDE0FFADF660EBDCCDE0EDE0FFADF660EBDCCDE0&view=detail&FORM=VIRE2
fourdeucer on May 1, 2013 at 7:54 PM
I’m not sure he’s so incredibly obtuse not to recognize that the left politicizes everything. I could be wrong though. After all, projection is their natural response to any issue.
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 7:57 PM
It depends on the rationale brought forth by the defense and/or the jurors…
If it comes down to – Is it murder or abortion if he attempts to kill the fetus while in the womb? Abortion? Then how is it murder if he finishes the job *outside* of the womb? Well, there’s a lot of people that will happily accept that rationalization… like Gosnell…
(and for the record my answer is murder on both ends)
Skywise on May 1, 2013 at 7:57 PM
How many women are on the jury?
SouthernGent on May 1, 2013 at 8:00 PM
If he does walk, a deranged individual will try to take him out. And that would be music to the MSM’s ears, to hold him up as a martyr just like that Tiller d-bag. Even if he does hire security, it would make it all but impossible to continue his “practice.”
After seeing both OJ and the Casey Anthony, nothing would shock me.
Myron Falwell on May 1, 2013 at 8:00 PM
I know the conventional wisdom is that with the jury being mostly female, that he’s got a better chance of walking. That being said, though it does seem that it is the rabid far-left women who are most for abortion, being a woman myself, I can’t imagine that there aren’t women on the jury who are mothers and having seen the bodies of those poor little babies, haven’t had their hearts torn to shreds over it. It doesn’t matter if your baby is black, white, orange, or green, in most “normal” women there’s something almost primitive about seeing babies and wanting to protect and “mother” them, and it really hits the gut when this doesn’t happen. (This is the sort of response that the people who use Newtown for gun control bank on.)
Katja on May 1, 2013 at 8:03 PM
My gut tells me hes gonna get off…
watertown on May 1, 2013 at 8:04 PM
And they saw this coverage, where?
Cindy Munford on May 1, 2013 at 8:09 PM
If the jury acquits him may each and every one of them be haunted to their last breath.
workingclass artist on May 1, 2013 at 8:09 PM
Poll: 70% of Muslims support same sex marriage. 80% support stoning to death homosexuals.
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 8:10 PM
I said it last week, I’m still betting he walks. OR
he gets barely a wrist slap, whatever the lowest possible punishment he can get would be – and probably get that suspended.
Probation – at BEST…
catmman on May 1, 2013 at 8:11 PM
You don’t think that there is at least woman on that jury that thinks protecting the “right” to kill one’s child is more important than convicting Gosnell? You have more faith in humanity than I do at this point.
Happy Nomad on May 1, 2013 at 8:14 PM
Troll reaches new level of ignorance and stupidity.
farsighted on May 1, 2013 at 8:15 PM
Like that.
Axe on May 1, 2013 at 8:15 PM
Sorry, wrong thread.
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 8:15 PM
Regrettably, the world is steeped in utilitarian thinking. Denial of basic, intrinsic human dignity is rampant. I know what I hope for here, but I’m not sure it will happen.
gryphon202 on May 1, 2013 at 8:16 PM
I see you are back with telling African Americans what they are truly are. A lot of chutzpah coming from a Jew.
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 8:23 PM
If Dr Death’s trials and acquittals are any indication maybe this country has lost all sense of decency in regards to acceptable behavior.
fourdeucer on May 1, 2013 at 8:24 PM
The RNC Channel. They Distort, You Consume.
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 8:25 PM
Gosnell BUTCHERED LIVE BABIES, and this is the level of your discourse.
You are a sick individual.
tom daschle concerned on May 1, 2013 at 8:28 PM
Man you’re dumb
gophergirl on May 1, 2013 at 8:29 PM
Are they not Americans or did I miss something?
MarshFox on May 1, 2013 at 8:30 PM
Too bad the jury couldn’t have been told that his own wife pleaded guilty to performing an illegal abortion, corrupt organisation, and two counts of conspiracy – all felonies.
Obviously, she didn’t do her crimes on her own. It was his clinic and only the two of them performed the abortion for which she pleaded guilty.
Resist We Much on May 1, 2013 at 8:31 PM
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 8:23 PM
Africa is a continent. It’s not a race. Joel Pollak of Breibart was born in SA and became a US citizen. HE is an ‘African-American’. My religion is Jewish-but my race is white.
Get it. Got it. Good.
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 8:31 PM
MarshFox on May 1, 2013 at 8:30 PM
I dislike the use of the term AA. To be AA you first have to be born in Africa…and you can be white and be AA. HAL doesn’t like things like that being pointed out.
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 8:33 PM
Remember the uproar when Theresa Heinz Kerry referred to herself as an African American? Because, after all, she was born in Angola and became a US citizen. Apparently African American is one of those “black things” that don’t mean what we think they mean.
Happy Nomad on May 1, 2013 at 8:38 PM
Happy Nomad on May 1, 2013 at 8:38 PM
I remember.
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 8:42 PM
I am with you, I asked HAL specifically for that reason, though the content of the conversation may change once the question is answered, because it shows the hypocrisy of the socialist agenda.
MarshFox on May 1, 2013 at 8:51 PM
Is Gosnell guilty of murder, or not?
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 9:00 PM
But it’s not dumb. It’s this:
http://predicthistunpredictpast.blogspot.com/2013/05/incredibly-attractive-think-progress.html
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/01/newspaper-guild-the-la-times-must-not-be-sold-to-the-koch-brothers-and-their-harsh-right-wing-positions/
I apologize RWM; I’m not stalking you, I swear. :) You are just exceedingly relevant today or something.
Anyway Spark, look what people can do with the concept of innocence and guilt there. It’s not rational, but “irrational” isn’t “stupid.” –A better question would be, “Could these people be crazier than the OJ Jury?”
Axe on May 1, 2013 at 9:05 PM
I would suggest the better question to ask is “Did Gosnell murder children.” The trial is about guilt. That has nothing to do with the morality of Gosnell’s actions.
Frankly, I’m a little surprised that the pro-death crowd have hunkered down and ignored this story. You would think they would be the most vocal trying to convince us that Gosnell does not represent abortionists or the whole filthy practice of killing children.
Happy Nomad on May 1, 2013 at 9:07 PM
They fear the above isn’t true. Covering Gosnell opens to scrutiny all late-term infanticide clinics.
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 9:11 PM
That’s true. Same difference though since HAL is unlikely to admit murder was committed either way. Which exposes the reason for why he is screaming we are politicizing of the issue, which of course we are. As a pro-lifer it would be stupid not to. But HAL is incapable of admitting Gosnell is in the wrong because he fears exposing the abortion industry just like the MSM does.
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 9:15 PM
The media blackout on this story has worked. I’ve been talking about his with everyone, and not one person even knew this had gone on. Everybody visibly winces when you describe Gosnells butcher factory.
tom daschle concerned on May 1, 2013 at 9:15 PM
The libs like HAL don’t scare me as much as the utilitarians like Thuja and Armin do. There has been advocation on this very site of judging life by its practical value, with absolutely no thought to what happens when people disagree on that point.
I’ve said it before on other threads on this topic, and it bears repeating: When utilitarianism becomes national policy, there will be an individual or small group of people who get to decide what lives are worth. And you’ll be just fine as a utilitarian, until you disagree with those people. It’s never a far cry from “you have a right to kill a lesser life” to “you have a duty to kill a lesser life.” And by then, it will be too late to pitch a fight.
gryphon202 on May 1, 2013 at 9:16 PM
Gratis.
CurtZHP on May 1, 2013 at 9:25 PM
Zzzzzzzz
Vacuous.
CW on May 1, 2013 at 9:39 PM
Not an original thought in your tiny little dishonest head. Not even close . You spew talking points like a good little liberal. Embarrassing.
CW on May 1, 2013 at 9:44 PM
Look, it is legal in this country to kill babies. That is what abortion is. This person has a license to kill babies and that’s what he did. How he kills those babies is a matter of patient Dr privacy. He’s going to get off with a minor charge. And the baby killing will continue all over this country. Is there really a difference between a baby conceived yesterday or actually born alive? To pro-abortionists and the courts- all just unwanted babies with no soul, no redeaming quality- my exact same view of pro-abortionists.
HICON on May 1, 2013 at 9:45 PM
Is anyone in America waking up when they hear news reports that start off like this:
Had he just done it inside the woman’s body…….
CW on May 1, 2013 at 9:52 PM
Which wouldn’t be a problem since late-term abortions are generally illegal, right? Surely none of these clinics are acting illegally and killing life viable outside the womb. /
Happy Nomad on May 1, 2013 at 10:05 PM
Yeah, Germans under Hitler found that out. It was one thing when all they were doing is making life difficult for the Jews. But when the Nazis decided that certain groups should be sterilized as racially inferior it hit home. But, of course, it was too late by then.
Happy Nomad on May 1, 2013 at 10:09 PM
No and yes.
No in the sense that life begins at conception.
Yes in the sense that once viable outside the womb, killing the child is even more reprehensible. Gosnell made a career out of reprehensible. But I fear we have so devalued life that he will walk.
Happy Nomad on May 1, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Genocide is the soulmate of Utopianism.
RushBaby on May 1, 2013 at 10:18 PM
Most of us who are African Americans do not give a d@mn whether you like or dislike the term African American. We sure don’t give a d@mn when its coming from a caucasian who has no clue what it is being black in America.
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 10:19 PM
Is it pretty sweet having lower standards and expectations?
tom daschle concerned on May 1, 2013 at 10:20 PM
I am not sure about you but I live in a country where you are innocent unit proven guilty by a jury of your peers. Definitely not by some right wing poster who is so out of touch from mainstream America.
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 10:21 PM
…your got your a$$ kicked the other night…and you come back with a dumber statement?…beside your mother fixations…you probably mutilate yourself constantly when your not here…don’t you DAISY?
KOOLAID2 on May 1, 2013 at 10:24 PM
African Americans can be white. Some African Americans are white. Some Africans are white. Many people born in Africa are white.
Zebras have stripes. Tereza Hinez kerry is an African American.
Not all black people are African.
SparkPlug on May 1, 2013 at 10:25 PM
This is not a complete sentence.
tom daschle concerned on May 1, 2013 at 10:26 PM
To me the AA designation reminds me of affirmative action. Not all black people favor affirmative action.
SparkPlug on May 1, 2013 at 10:29 PM
The reprobate known as HotAirLib will not answer any of my questions. Why is that?
tom daschle concerned on May 1, 2013 at 10:35 PM
Yep. Exact evasion I expected. BTW Mr. African American, any comment on the fact that more than half of all black pregnancies end in abortion?
NotCoach on May 1, 2013 at 10:35 PM
I will not be surprised if he walks. We have become an evil nation. Sure, a lot of us still hold true to belief in God, but the majority voted for President anti-BAIPA. A majority supposedly support the fallacy of SSM. I don’t think these genies will be put back in the bottle. Of course, miracles happen, but it isn’t looking good. The evil leftists have controlled our education system for too long and our youth are so warped. They voted for freedom of sex over true freedom. We are Romans 1. Those who consent to them that do such things are worthy of death. We are a dying nation.
It could be swift or it could be drawn out, but a Chastisement is coming. I have been reading a lot about ancient to present Catholic prophecy. From the very early Church Fathers to Fatima to Akita… It is all lining up. One look at the Drudge front page and you can see it so clearly. Persecution is here, it just hasn’t turned bloody yet, in the US. It’s coming. God have mercy on my children.
“A nation that kills its own children is a nation without hope.” ~Blessed Mother Theresa pray for us.
pannw on May 1, 2013 at 10:36 PM
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 10:19 PM
I’m not ‘Caucasian’, you racist trash…I’m AMERICAN!
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 10:41 PM
So you would hate Chechnyans (and others from that area) calling you black?
nobar on May 1, 2013 at 10:44 PM
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 10:19 PM
You’re not an ‘African’ ANYTHING! you’re just a plain old American…unfortunately.
I
annoyinglittletwerp on May 1, 2013 at 10:44 PM
Another white lecturing African Americans about who they truly are. It never fails with these anti minority tea partiers.
HotAirLib on May 1, 2013 at 10:45 PM
Question: Is race all that defines you? If so, then just call us crackers. It obviously isn’t beneath you.
nobar on May 1, 2013 at 10:46 PM
No such thing exists.
tom daschle concerned on May 1, 2013 at 10:46 PM
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