The jury in the John Edwards case, currently in federal court, addressing unreported campaign finance donations, has been handed the case and has gone into deliberations to decide Edwards guilt or innocence.

John Edwards, now 58, is a two time campaigner for the presidency of the United States. His last presidential campaign took a nose-dive when his affair and coverup of his affair and fathering of Reille Hunter and her baby were uncovered. He is charged with using nearly $1 million of those donations to conceal that affair and its results.

Edwards eight men, four women jury has listened to the case unveil itself over the last four weeks innvolving six federal felony counts.

Even though the judge in the case, Judge Catherine Eagles has instructed the jury to disregard Edwards infidelity, women have a tendency to take these allegations into concideration when deciding a verdict in a case. lawyers and analysts beleive women are inclined to punish Edwards for his affair, that affair carried on as edwards wife was battling cancer that re-occured in 2007. It is beleived that the makeup of the jury, two-to-one men over women will serve to keep that aspect muted.

The former Senator and Presidential contendor faces four felony counts related to the acceptance and receiving of illegally large campaign donations. Those donations came from trial lawyer Fred Baron and heiress Rachel Mellon, who inherited the Listerine brand. Another of the counts accuses Edwards of campaign finance law conspiracy. The last count pertains to concealing payments from the Federal Election Commission.

Because of a lack of criminal history on the part of Edwards, the stiffer judgement of five years on each count, if he is convicted, will no doubt not be adhered to. Due to the murkiness of the legal standards on campaign donations, if Edwards loses, he will appeal. If he wins, the government cannot appeal to have him retried. The lack of clarity of that particular law is the reason that defense lawyers sought to have the case thrown out before the trial even began.

Many of the key players in the case never went on the stand. Fred Baron died from cancer died in October of 2008, Rachel Mellon, because her age at 101, was not called, Rielle Hunter, Edwards mistress, was not called by either side, and Edwards himself declined to testify.

Andrew Young, Edwards fundraiser, driver, and scheduler, did take the stand however and painted a unfavorable picture of Edwards, saying that it was requested y Edwards that Young solicit funds from Baron and Mellon. He testified that it was also Edwards idea to have Young pose as the father of Hunter unborn baby during the 2008 election.

The defense countered Young’s testimony saying that it was Young who injected himself into the situation for personal benefit and also accused him of diversion of hundreds of thousands of donor money for his own personal use.

In closing arguements, Edwards lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated to the jury that the money from Baron and Mellon was in fact not a campaign contribution as the prosecution claims, but a gift for his own benefit.

Lowell also pointed out that the money was used to hide the affair from Edwards wife who was dying of cancer, “John was a bad husband, but there is not the remotest chance that John did or intended to violate the law,” Lowell said. He continued, “If what John did was a crime, we’d better build a lot more court rooms, hire a lot more prosecutors and build a lot more jails.”

The jury, three hours into deliberation, asked the court for government exhibits in the case. The items requested are the copies of two checks made out to an interior designer that were deposited into Young’s bank account and the letter written by Mellon that suggested that Edwards send her “all bills” that were necessary and important for his campaign. This after the media printed articles on the price of John Edwards haircuts.