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On Tuesday, former John Edwards aide Andrew Young and his wife Cheri were ordered to spend up to 75 days in jail for contempt of court. The contempt charge stems from the couple's handling of an alleged sex tape filmed during Edwards' campaign featuring the former presidential candidate and his mistress Rielle Hunter.

Hunter sued Young for possession of the purported sex tape, which Young claims involves Edwards performing oral sex on a pregnant Hunter. The judge handling the case, Abraham Penn Jones, now believes that the Youngs are withholding relevant items from the court including additional copies of the tape, ABC News reported.

The missing footage was not the only troubling aspect of the case for Jones. Hunter's lawyers have accused Young of "dozens of lies," and Jones agreed there were certain inconsistencies to Young's story. "I don't want to lock them up, but the pattern is really painful to me," Jones said, according to the AP. "I can't get my gut to rest right now." According to Raleigh News and Observer, Jones added, "there were things told to the court under oath, in affidavits, in testimony that turned out to be inaccurate. Right now, part of me says they didn't tell me the truth before in this court."

The Youngs were not immediately placed in custody.

This isn't the only legal trouble Young is facing -- Edwards' estranged wife Elizabeth is considering suing Young for alienation of affection for his role in covering up Edwards' affair with Hunter on the campaign trail. Meanwhile, according to the National Enquirer, his former boss is likely to be indicted by a federal grand jury in the near future.

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Comments

[LogicalMathMan]

If you make a sex tape, unless you keep it between yourselves and under strict lock and key, you can bet, it will find its way on the net.

This too shall pass...yawn!

[advancingthelaw]

This is a civil case, not a criminal case. Blackmail or extortion is a very specific crime, and most of all it has to be done under the color of the law.

In this instant case, from really poor reportage, I don't know the case number, the court, the state, the laws, if it's a Federal Case (because of jurisdictional issues) or specific to a specific venue, county in a particular state.

It would seem to me that the proper legal action is an injunction prohibiting the use and broadcast of said video tape, first. Then as proof of the existence, and order to compel evidence. But 75 days in jail is excessive.

This entire debacle is very sleazy. Elizabeth should not sue anyone and attempt to heal herself, mend and move towards recovery and stability in her health. A lawsuit won't validate anything. It could affirm merely that both of you Edwards think lawsuits are the means by which people get along.

As for Hunter, and those photographs, gag me with a spoon, please.

What a bunch of narcissists. Edwards and his new girl friend - narcissism - which means it won't last - their relationship.

[MaeBayB]

Your Honor, I fervently object!!! Jail is much too good for this greedy opportunistic duo. I move that these sex tape pushing perverts instead be confined under the jail with their peers, the RATS.

[duze]

The youngs are criminals and should do jail time. They were as much a part of the affair and Edwards and the jumpoff. They knew about it and continued to deceive Elizabeth for what was an ongoing plan to enrich themselves over the situation.
The whole thing backfired they should be punished and Elizabeth should sue them for everything their worth for helping her husband deceive her during the most painful time in her life. Their worst than Edwards and the jumpoff. They planned to make money off of everyone.

[Chris202]

LMAO. On 3/12 Young said under oath Hunter and Edwards destroyed his family's life by calling him a liar and a thief.

Two thing Young needs to learn - 1. He is a liar by his own admission. (He claimed paternity of Hunter's child and then said that was a lie in his book. By definition a person who lies is a liar.) 2. He ruined his life and his family's life by getting involved in the affair before the pregnancy, cover up, etc. The rest just added insult to injury.

Then Young is quoted as saying: "If your client (Hunter) is willing to take back — and if John Edwards is willing to take back — the fact that they called me a liar, I will be glad to walk away. They started this fight." Is he a 10 year old on the playground? Grow up and maybe you'd stop harming your family further.

[Chris202]

Young couldn't/wouldn't say his book is true under oath.
Alan Duncan, one of Hunter's lawyers, read from a lengthy list of questions aimed at highlighting discrepancies between Andrew Young's multiple affidavits and his best-selling tell-all book about the Edwards affair and coverup.

"It's to the best of the author's recollection," Young said of his book. "It's not under oath." (Young said he couldn't name the author due to a confidentiality agreement.)

Duncan, who repeatedly called Young a liar during the court proceedings, then challenged the defendant to swear his book was completely factual. Young, a lawyer himself, declined to do so. "I'm not going to say anything absolute," he said.

The judge didn't send them to jail but did issue a stern warning to the couple from the bench. "I'm thoroughly convinced there are numerous discrepancies in affidavits filed with this court, and that is troubling," Jones said. "I'm not going to lock you up. ... But if it turns out that you have lied to me, I have the discretion to revisit this matter. I hope to God you're telling the truth because if it turns out I'm wrong, you're going to pay for it," Jones warned.

"If it comes out that you lied to this court, I want you to know that I still have the authority and discretion to refer this matter to the district attorney," Jones said, referring to a potential perjury charge in criminal court.

[374662]

Wow! If I were the publisher of his book, I'd be concerned that he won't say the book is true. They should also be concerned his defense when confronted with inconsistencies was his heavy drinking impairing his memory. If that were true, how can anything he put in the book be taken at face value without question.

Young better make sure to destroy any remaining materials he has in a way that leaves no trace. Otherwise, he will find himself in a world of trouble. It was so ridiculous for him to handle the matter as he did. The suit gave him the publicity he wanted for his book so he should have returned the items immediately. Then he could have talked about it endlessly in his interviews and avoided both the huge legal bills he must be running up and the humiliation of being exposed in court and lambasted by the judge. Of course, no one ever said Young was smart, which he continues to prove.

The clock ran out on his 15 minutes - go away.

[LogicalMathMan]

I agree.

This is one sordid saga.

[Cherubim]

The judge's actions are correct.
Jail is exactly where the Youngs, who are blackmailers and worst, should be.
By the way, John Edwards was so right about your U.S. Congress and Health Care.
I remember when John said:
"And When they cut the deal (with the Insurance companies) on Health Care...."
Click on the link and watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbXNUbUj0A

I will know the Democrats are serious about Universal Health Care
for the U.S. citizen when they allow John Edwards to speak the
truth again.

[freelyb]

He can speak all he wants, just not on my TV. There are more honorable people to stand up for the middle class. I'd like to hear more from them.

[lemondade]

EDWARDS AND HIS "VIDEO OPERATOR" ARE THE CRIMINALS IN THIS WHOLE SAGA!!!!!!!!

[bridgeman]

the girl in the pic looks like a young Pelosi...whats happening here??

[truthglow]

You are only projecting.

[Sarah Ledbetter-Leonard]

I hate to say it but Edwards and Rielle also need to join the Andrews in jail! Like I said, I hate this because I loved Edwards, I saw him speak 3 times and I saw Elizabeth speak once! I am so disgusted and disappointed in him! Elizabeth will do better without him!!!

[SoCalNick]

I am glad I do not live in the country where people like you would throw people in PRISON for adultery.

PRISON

How perfect you must be.

FYI You would have to put a fence around an entire STATE and turn it into a Prison.

That is all

[Lachlan Prescott]

Nah, don't jail them, cane them! Muahahahaha

[Lachlan Prescott]

He's the embarrassment to all the Johns out there. Couldn't there be any cheaper hooker out there other than Rielle.

[Sonoma]

"I am tired of people helping criminals then turning around making millions by hitting the airwaves and writing books".

You must really be furious about Karl Rove's new book.

[LogicalMathMan]

Rove's book comes with a free rug....lie like a rug, u know!

[duhtruth]

Sandy Burgler got off easy after stealing and destroying classified documents. These folks get a ridiculous sentence. Has our justice system gone loco?

[ESerafina42]

Are you people still on about that? They were COPIES and he has paid his debt. Please get over it.

Now, how about Bush, Cheney, Rove et al, who have gotten off scot free after all their MANY crimes?

[jamie461]

Good. Lock these vultures up. Profiting off of someone else's pain should be a criminal offense.

[Rock Brasiliano]

Do you mean Edwards?? LOL....

[rosieee]

Best news I can hear. I am tired of people helping criminals then turning around making millions by hitting the airwaves and writing books. Who can tell who lies then!

[scorpioleidy]

Wow - with "friends" like the Youngs ...

[cityspeak]

Lying over a sex tape gets you 75 days in jail.

Outing an American spy in times of war gets you a book deal(Rove).

What is wrong with this picture?