Another twist in dispute over reputed Edwards sex tape
A Superior Court judge said he will hold a hearing to determine whether a former aide to two-time Democratic presidential candidate violated a court order by sharing evidence in a civil trial with federal prosecutors investigating Edwards.
Posted — UpdatedEdwards' former mistress, Rielle Hunter, is suing former aide Andrew Young and his wife for the return of personal photos and videos, including what's reputed to be a sex tape featuring Edwards. Hunter says the items were taken while she was in hiding during the 2008 campaign, but the Youngs maintain the Hunter left them behind when she moved from a house in Chatham County.
A federal grand jury indicted Edwards in June on campaign finance violations, alleging that he accepted illegal donations from two wealthy contributors and funneled the money to Hunter to hide their affair.
Edwards has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his trial is set for January.
Young is a star witness for the prosecution in the criminal case, and he turned over all of his documents and depositions to federal investigations. Hunter's lawyers said Young and his wife were guilty of contempt of court since materials in the civil case were supposed to remain under wraps until the trial, which is set for March.
Young was simply complying with a federal order, according to his attorney, Robert "Hoppy" Elliot. The order also forbade him from telling Hunter's attorneys or Orange County Superior Court about the document transfer, Elliot said.
Judge Michael Morgan said he would hold a hearing before deciding whether the Youngs violated a state court order. No date has been set for the hearing.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
