John Edwards Asks To Delay Trial Over Campaign Finances, Citing Illness

RALEIGH, N.C. — Former presidential candidate John Edwards says he has been diagnosed with a medical condition that would make it difficult for him to attend his approaching criminal trial over campaign finances and is asking for it to be delayed.

In a motion filed Thursday, Edwards' lawyers asked a federal judge to delay the start of the Jan. 30 trial for at least two months. They did not disclose his illness and filed sealed records with the court.

"The Defendant has a medical issue ... that will prevent a trial of this matter during the January 2012 Criminal Term," the motion says. "The failure to grant a continuance would be likely to result in a miscarriage of justice."

Members of the defense team could not immediately be reached for comment.

Federal prosecutors did not take a position on the medical issue.

However, prosecutors filed a separate motion opposing another Edwards request for more time to prepare. Prosecutors said they are ready to try Edwards on six felony and misdemeanor counts related to nearly $1 million from wealthy donors used to help hide his pregnant mistress during his 2008 run for the While House.

Edwards, a Democrat, denies knowingly violating the law and has pleaded not guilty.

The start date of the trial has already been put back once after Edwards said he needed more time to prepare his defense and attend his daughter's wedding.

Edwards appeared healthy last week at a pretrial hearing in the case.

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Comments

[Chris202]

10:36 AM on 12/28/2011

A panic attack is a medical issue that should delay a trial?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079413/John-Edwards-wants-court-delay-trouble-sleeping-thought-heart-attack.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

The miscarriage of justice would be granting the delay!

[Jordan53]

11:33 AM on 12/27/2011

He did not delay his presidential bid or his affair to accomadate his wife's illness...grow a pair Edwards and show up for your trial!!

[Druudge]

11:16 AM on 12/27/2011

...

Remember how the Huffp0 Allstars were ALL about Edwards....

Loved him.....

.

[rdk70816]

09:53 AM on 12/27/2011

Edwards is sick of being Edwards.

[flindbergconsult]

08:46 AM on 12/27/2011

a man who could have been president----very scary

[bridgeman]

12:39 AM on 12/27/2011

He has acute PARIAH syndrome

[rt1027]

11:29 PM on 12/26/2011

too funny

[Kevin Rayburn]

10:00 PM on 12/26/2011

let me guess...his condition is as follows "john edwards feels john edwards is above the law and therefore is too good to stand trial for violating any law of the us of a. thus he is not required by reasons of his better than everyone else-itis to appear in court." LOCK THIS CLOWN UP ALREADY.

[rt1027]

11:30 PM on 12/26/2011

well said

[calloy]

09:30 PM on 12/26/2011

i can only assume he's getting plastic surgery so he won't look like john edwards anymore.

[Aquest]

08:38 PM on 12/26/2011

He is an experience trial lawyer. In that, he knows he is in deep trouble. This 'illness' is just the first of many gambits he will be trying to avoid justice.

He needs 'the book thrown at him'. He was running to be the candidate for President, all the time knowing that if his affair became public he would be giving the Presidency to the republicans.

Arrogance like that should not go unrewarded.

[Littlewords]

07:45 PM on 12/26/2011

Medical Ailment: facious consequencatia

This is an ailment that manifests itself in persons of extreme guilt and flares just before accountability of inappropriate and/or illegal actions. The medical condition is usually associated with other symptoms such as ducking the media, court date deferrals, and chronic denials and misdirections until ultimately proven guilty at which time the patient begins to demonstrate an 'I've found the Lord' delirium which grows until the sentencing process is complete. At this point, some patients begin to hallucinate and perceive themselves as competent authors and then commence to offering up a book to tell their story (for a price).

[Wallysmom]

12:39 AM on 12/27/2011

facious consequenc­atia is a severe illness. Symptoms include finding your whoowhoo somewhere other than where it should be and an insatiable need to lie through your teeth.

[LoyalBob]

07:10 PM on 12/26/2011

Syphilis?

[modelaford]

06:25 PM on 12/26/2011

Sounds like we are in school and need a doctor's or mom's excuse note to get out of school. I 'm sure if he has a doctor's confirmation...then the prosecution will allow for a one month extension....they don't want to give him any reason for an appeal. The article states that it only impacts January...so It can't be too serious if it's only going to impact Janary.

[llyd wlsh]

05:55 PM on 12/26/2011

john, being an @$$h0le isn't a disease, it's a character flaw

[FOXYROSE]

05:39 PM on 12/26/2011

Mystery illness, Mistress - what comes around goes around, John.