The Hill News

Prosecutors accused former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards of using illegal campaign contributions to cover up the pregnancy of mistress and former campaign employee Rielle Hunter during the opening arguments at the former senator's trial Monday.

"If his affair went public it would destroy his candidacy, and he knew it," prosecutor David Harbach told the jury, according to ABC News. "His mistress was a loose cannon, and he knew it. He made a choice to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars. He made a choice to break the law. That is why we are here."

Edwards faces six criminal charges stemming from almost $1 million in payments from campaign donors to Hunter in an attempt to hide the affair. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include conspiracy, false statements and four counts of receiving illegal campaign contributions.

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