# Can someone explain the criminal case against John Edwards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 22, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600 "2012-04-22T17:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600/21 "2012-04-23T19:24:12Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > T-bon has an excellent point there. If Ms. B can show that she’s in the habit of supporting X number of single Moms each year, and Rielle just happens to be one she heard about through a fellow church member, everybody is probably int he clear. The indictment alleges that the checks to Hunter “falsely listed items of furniture on the memo lines,” which presumably would complicate any such argument. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600/22 "2012-04-23T19:29:43Z")
Hey, every single mom just starting out needs to buy a crib and a change table! Mrs B just ensured that Hunter was able to get the top of the line models! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600/23 "2012-04-23T20:39:15Z")
Oh, wow. > [@](#): > > The missing pieces of the case also could be significant, he said. Neither of the two donors whose payments are in question are able to testify. > Fred Baron, who served as Edwards’ national campaign finance chairman in 2008, has since died, and heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon is 101 and physically unable to attend the trial. Elizabeth Edwards died in 2010. So there is really little hope of getting to the truth here. Unfortunate. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600/24 "2012-04-23T21:21:50Z")
“Snoopy fired once, and he fired twice / And that Bloody Fred Baron went spinning out of sight” ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600/25 "2012-04-23T21:59:59Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > The indictment alleges that the checks to Hunter “falsely listed items of furniture on the memo lines,” which presumably would complicate any such argument. I’m confused. How does that point to Edwards’ guilt? If anything it shows that the 101 year old lady committed election fraud. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600/26 "2012-04-24T00:49:19Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I’m confused. How does that point to Edwards’ guilt? If anything it shows that the 101 year old lady committed election fraud. Because it wasn’t being done without his involvement and knowledge. She probably did commit a crime - but that doesn’t mean _he’s_ innocent. Edwards’ rich old lady friend bought Edward’s ex-wife’s silence, or at least that’s the government’s contention (one which I find probable). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600/27 "2012-04-24T17:19:33Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Hey, every single mom just starting out needs to buy a crib and a change table! Mrs B just ensured that Hunter was able to get the top of the line models! “I believe in helping others. I do a lot of work with unwed mothers, for instance. Y’know, just helping them get their start…” - Steve Martin [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-criminal-case-against-john-edwards/619600.md?page=1)