JOHN EDWARDS and his daughter KATE EDWARDS UPHAN entered court for Day One of the political trial of the century as jury selection begins.
As The ENQUIRER first reported in an exhaustive years-long investigation jury selection has begun for the criminal trial of the dsigraced two time presidential loser.
A beaming Edwards entered a Greensboro, N.C., courtroom to face six criminal counts related to nearly $1 million in secret payments made by two campaign donors 101 year old Listerine heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon and late money man Fred Baron to help hide mistress Rielle Hunter as he sought the White House in 2008.
AP reported that Edwards, 58, sat at the defense table as about 180 potential jurors filed into a Greensboro, N.C., courtroom. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles then asked Edwards to stand and face them. He grinned and nodded as the judge introduced him.
"This is not a case about whether Mr. Edwards was a good husband or politician," the judge said. "It's about whether he violated campaign finance laws. … The Constitution says trial by jury, not trial by Internet or trial by gossip."
Feds contend Edwards masterminded a slush fund to former loyalist Andrew Young who first claimed the love child baby was his.
Young will be a key witness for the prosecution. Insiders say that Rielle Hunter could testify as part of Edwards’ defense.
The trial is expected to last about six weeks.
Stay tuned to The ENQUIRER for exclusive continuing coverage of the bombshell political trial of the century – The United States vs. Johnny Reid Edwards!
