CHRIS SEWARD - N&O STAFF
The case of Democrat John Edwards could test the breadth of campaign finance law.
CHAPEL HILL -- The federal judge overseeing the John Edwards case has scheduled a status conference with the lawyers for this afternoon in a Greensboro courtroom.
Catherine Eagles set the 2 p.m. hearing in the federal courthouse after a flurry of court filings from Edwards' attorneys and prosecutors that were sealed from public viewing.
Shortly before Christmas, Edwards' defense team asked for a delay in his trial, which is set to begin with jury selection Jan. 30. In seeking the delay, the attorneys cited an undisclosed medical condition afflicting the former U.S. presidential candidate that was hampering his abilities to prepare for trial.
The lawyers also cited the sheer volume of documents and other information gathered by prosecutors in the case as another reason to seek the delay.
Edwards' defense team declined to elaborate on the medical condition.
Details were filed under seal.
Edwards, 58, is accused of violating campaign finance laws by secretly obtaining and using contributions from two wealthy supporters to hide his mistress and her pregnancy from the public during his unsuccessful bid for president in 2008.
The payments covered living, medical and other expenses for Rielle Hunter, a videographer with whom he had an extramarital affair and a daughter. Prosecutors argue the donations were campaign contributions meant to hide the affair so Edwards could keep his presidential bid alive. They also contend the contributions exceeded legal limits.
Prosecutors have objected to the delay sought by Edwards based on arguments about the novelty of the case and the sheer volume of information associated with it. They have not taken a stand on the request related to his medical condition..
As of late last month, the defense team reported receiving 566,013 pages of documents from the government - 364,221 of which were pages of campaign emails.They have received 6,500 pages of telephone records, 33,225 pages of financial records accounting for several hundred thousand separate financial transactions and 5,900 pages of transcripts and interviews including 26 federal grand jury depositions and 180 witness interviews.They continue to argue the complexity of the case and the novelty of the case are reasons for more time.
Prosecutors contend their case is one of simple questions. They argued that further delay would work against the government.
