The trial of John Edwards is not scheduled to begin for at least two and a half weeks, but the tabloids already are dishing on the legal drama in all CAPITAL LETTERS!
The latest from the National Enquirer: "John Edwards Secret Wedding to Rielle! His desperate attempt to CHEAT JUSTICE."
Typically, the mainstream media would turn a blind eye to such headlines.
But this case - made for the tabloids with its infidelity, Hollywood-handsome characters, large financial gifts and jet-setting lifestyles - has been stranger than fiction.
The tabloids, with reports that seemed farfetched and bogus, often had the story right and first.
But this latest flurry of tabloid reports contains no evidence to support claims that have mainstream media chasing their veracity.
A check of marriage license offices in six counties - Wake and Orange, near Edwards' home outside Chapel Hill, Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union counties near Hunter's home in Charlotte and New Hanover County near Edwards' beach home - turn up no reports of the couple seeking or filing for a wedding license.
The burden of facts, though, has not slowed the tabloid coverage.
There have been numerous reports of secret proposals and lavish weddings in exotic places.
The tabloids leapt in recently with an explanation for the latest mystery in the case: What ails Edwards?
Last month, his lawyers asked for a trial delay, citing an undisclosed medical condition that made it difficult for the former U.S. presidential candidate to help with preparations.
Officially secret
Though the details of his malady were filed under seal, that didn't stop a British tabloid from coming forth with a dramatic story line. The former U.S. senator, 58, according to their report, allegedly collapsed in the arms of a close friend shortly before Christmas, debilitated after a long run by chest pains, which turned out to be a panic attack.
Prosecutors who were privy to the information have batted back requests for a delay.
Jim Cooney, the Charlotte attorney representing Edwards, declined to comment about the tabloid accounts.
Catherine Eagles, the federal judge overseeing the case, has summoned the defense team and prosecutors to the Greensboro courthouse on Friday to discuss the trial schedule.
The hearing, though, is expected to be a ROUTINE DISCUSSION OF LEGAL SCHEDULING!
Staff writer Brooke Cain contributed to this report.
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The jury deliberating the John Edwards case broke for a long holiday weekend Friday with no verdict and no indication of how close together or far apart they are on any of the six counts. Meanwhile, courthouse observers are abuzz about alternate jurors dressing in the same colors. 
Media sets up “Camp Edwards,” the defendant takes in another baseball game and the wait enters one week for a jury verdict in the trial of the former presidential candidate. 
If the jury tasked with deciding the fate of John Edwards is following the judge’s direction, only the jury’s eight men and four women know what their deliberations have focused on for the past four days.
The jury has concluded its fourth day of deliberations in John Edwards' trial on charges of violating federal campaign finance law. Deliberations will continue Thursday. 
John Edwards might be the one with the most to win or lose with the jury deliberating his fate, but the U.S. Department of Justice has a lot riding on his case, too. 
After hearing riveting testimony of an affair and billionaires, the jury in John Edwards’ trial must now assess his guilt or innocence on the less captivating details of campaign finance law. 
After the judge divided the 16 people into 12 jurors and four alternates, they started deciding whether the Democratic presidential candidate broke campaign finance laws.
The John Edwards trial comes to a close with arguments from both sides. A prosecutor says the evidence shows the former presidential candidate violated campaign finance laws. The defense says the government has not supported its charges. Keep up with the latest stories with our free local news e-mail newsletters, delivered straight to your inbox!
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