Jury to Decide John Edwards's Fate

"Edwards does not testify as lawyers wrap up his defense" by Michael Biesecker  |  Associated Press, May 17, 2012

GREENSBORO, N.C. - John Edwards’s team wrapped up their defense Wednesday without calling the former presidential candidate, his mistress, or his daughter to testify, a move specialists say was intended to shift focus from a political sex scandal to the nitty-gritty of campaign finance law.

“The defense wasn’t sexy, but the defense doesn’t want sexy. It wants an acquittal,’’ said Steve Friedland, a professor at Elon University School of Law and former federal prosecutor who has attended much of the trial.

Specialists said Edwards’s bare-bone defense, which lasted just over two days, may be enough to avoid conviction on charges he authorized more than $1 million secretly provided by two wealthy donors to help hide an affair with pregnant mistress Rielle Hunter as he sought the White House in 2008.

The prosecution presented nearly three weeks of evidence and testimony from a former Edwards aide and campaign advisers that painted Edwards as a frequent liar, but showed no direct evidence he intended to break federal campaign finance laws, the experts said. 

Related: Edwards Trial Strip Tease

Many observers believed Edwards would testify so the jury could hear directly from the former US senator and trial lawyer, who had a reputation for his ability to sway jurors.

But putting Edwards and Hunter on the stand would have exposed them to withering cross-examination about Edwards’s past lies and personal failings.

“The defense may very well have felt that their case was solid enough to go to the jury without the risk of the personal testimony of these witnesses, which would undoubtedly resurrect the salacious details of the affair for the jury,’’ said Catherine Dunham, another Elon law professor who has been attending the trial.

The defense also elected not to call Edwards’s oldest daughter, Cate, a 30-year-old lawyer who has sat behind her father nearly every day, as a character witness to help humanize him.

At one point during the trial, Cate Edwards ran out of the courtroom in tears during testimony about her cancer-stricken mother, Elizabeth, confronting her father about his extramarital affair.

Closing arguments in the case are set for Thursday; US District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles gave each side two hours to make their case. The jury will probably begin deliberations Friday.

--more--"  

Also see: 

John Edwards, mistress could still take stand

Closing arguments made in Edwards corruption trial

Edwards jury asks for evidence on heiress

Deliberations continue in John Edwards case