John Edwards: Not guilty on one count, mistrial on others

The federal jury in former Sen. John Edwards' campaign finance trial found him not guilty on one of the six counts against him. After the jury said they could not render verdicts on the other counts, the judge declared a mistrial.

The verdict came on a count that involved a $200,000 check from the heiress Rachel Mellon that was not cashed until after Edwards' 2000 presidential campaign had ended.

From the New York Times:

Mr. Edwards, speaking outside the court, praised the jurors for taking the time to “reach a fair and just result under the evidence of the law.”

“Thank goodness that we live in a country that has the kind of system that we have,” he said.

Mr. Edwards said he also took responsibility for the events that led to the federal charges. “This is about me,” he said. “I want to make sure that everyone hears from me and from my voice. While I do not believe that I did anything illegal or ever thought I was doing anything illegal, I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong, and there is no one else responsible for my sins.”

He said he found no fault with any of the witnesses or with the people who worked on the government’s case against him. “I am responsible,” he said. “And if I want to find the person who should be held accountable, honestly, I don’t have to go any further than the mirror. It is me and me alone.”

The case revolved around large sums of money spent to cover up Edwards' affair with Los Angeles videographer Rielle Hunter.