Edwards Admits Feds Probing Hush Cash

Plus, how many Americans like him? Not many: poll

(NEWSER) - It's not a great day for John Edwards: As his trial begins, a CBS News poll finds that just 3% have a favorable view of the former politician, and the New York Post reports that even his romance with Rielle Hunter—who will likely be called to testify—has petered out. Politico lists six things to watch during the campaign finance trial:

• How will campaign finance be affected? Though, as Politico points out, "few candidates pay their mistresses," politicians do tend to rack up other personal expenses. One activist fears that if Edwards is convicted, it will encourage campaigns to foot the bill for those costs by suggesting "every bit of money a candidate spends could be seen as in furtherance of his campaign and therefore … a candidate can use campaign funds for almost anything."

As his trial begins today, legal experts question government's case

(NEWSER) - Jury selection begins today in the trial of John Edwards, and if it were a crime to be a sleazeball, he'd be going away for life. But what he's actually charged with—failing to report gifts of almost $1 million, hiding them as campaign contributions, and using them to keep Rielle Hunter happy—is pretty dubious, some legal experts tell NPR . "John Edwards is a despicable and loathsome human being, but that doesn't also make him a criminal," says one Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington official. More»

Sources say candidate acknowledged payments to pregnant mistress

(NEWSER) - Prosecutors possess evidence from John Edwards' own emails that help prove a key part of the case against him and make his decision to opt for a trial instead of a plea bargain look even riskier, sources tell AP . In the emails, Edwards and his former speechwriter, Wendy Button, discuss a draft statement in which he acknowledges paternity of his child with Rielle Hunter and knowledge of payments to keep her in hiding, the sources say. More»

Former candidate expected to be indicted or forge plea deal

(NEWSER) - The two-year federal investigation into John Edwards has reached a critical point and criminal charges against him are expected to be filed today. Edwards' attorney has traveled to North Carolina to meet with prosecutors, and the former Democratic presidential candidate is likely to either be indicted or reach a plea agreement over his alleged use of campaign funds to cover up an extramarital affair during the 2008 campaign, sources tell CNN . More»

John and Elizabeth plan a formal divorce by year's end

(NEWSER) - John Edwards has asked Rielle Hunter to marry him, and he plans to formally divorce estranged wife Elizabeth to do so, the National Enquirer reports. Edwards allegedly proposed to Hunter, the mother of his daughter Frances Quinn, the same day he told her he would publicly admit paternity after years of denial. Sources tell the Enquirer that the Edwards' divorce will be finalized within the year, and that John is buying a $3.5 million beachfront home to live in with Hunter and Frances Quinn. More»