Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards asserted that he didn’t break federal laws when he hid his pregnant mistress during the time he was seeking the nomination in 2008. He pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges filed against him that claimed he accepted around #1 million from two supporters to finance the deception. john edwards

A federal grand jury indicted Edwards on six counts of violating campaign finance laws, conspiring to protect his candidacy by breaking federal laws, and being dishonest to the government. The case could prosper if the government would hold Edwards to an election law standard higher than the norm.

The first page of the indictment indicated that Edwards’ 2008 campaign centered on him being a devoted family man and he stressed that family would always come first. The government claimed that he was trying to maintain the possibility of his candidacy by accepting money to hide his mistress, Rielle Hunter, and their daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter. The money Edwards got was undeclared campaign contributions.

This is just the latest episode of Edwards’ political and personal implosion. If he can’t get a deal with the prosecutors, he has to face trial and his disgrace will be known by the public.