Does John Edwards deserve a plea deal?

Having allegedly used presidential campaign funds to cover up a scandalous affair, Edwards is reportedly looking to avoid an embarrassing trial... for a price

John Edwards
(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Disgraced former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is reportedly seeking a plea deal before prosecutors charge him with using $1 million from wealthy donors to hide an affair with Rielle Hunter, the campaign videographer then pregnant with Edwards' child. Word is that the Justice Department has decided to formally indict the former North Carolina senator and 2004 vice presidential nominee. If Edwards can reach an agreement with prosecutors, he could avoid an embarrassing trial, but he'd likely have to give up his law license and maybe even spend some time behind bars. A fitting end to this scandal?

Edwards' fate should be decided in court: "Since when is a law license a 'get out of jail free' card?" says John Cole at Balloon Juice. Edwards' legal team apparently wants prosecutors to give Edwards a huge break because he would be sacrificing his livelihood to make this whole scandal go away. "You know who else loses their livelihood when they are found breaking the law? Everyone else on the planet." But you don't see regular guys avoiding messy trials by promising to stop delivering pizzas.

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