(NewsCore) – The jury has reached a verdict in the John Edwards federal corruption trial, FOX News Channel reported Thursday.
Edwards is charged with six felony counts for accepting nearly $1 million from two political supporters to cover up an affair with campaign videographer Rielle Hunter during his 2008 run for the White House.
He has pleaded not guilty and faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.
In order to obtain a guilty verdict, prosecutors must have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the donations constituted campaign contributions and Edwards was aware he was breaking the law by accepting them.
Edwards’ lawyers argued throughout the trial the donations should be considered private gifts not subject to campaign-finance laws, and that Edwards was not fully aware of the scheme to conceal Hunter — which was concocted by campaign-finance chair Fred Baron and aide Andrew Young.
The jury deliberated for nine days after hearing nearly four weeks of arguments and testimony.
