Jury selection under way in John Edwards trial

Former U.S. Sen. and presidential candidate John Edwards, center, leaves the federal court after an appearance in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011.  A federal judge denied on Thursday a bid by Edwards to have the criminal case against him thrown out, paving the way for a trial to begin in January. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Former U.S. Sen. and presidential candidate John Edwards, center, leaves the federal court after an appearance in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011. A federal judge denied on Thursday a bid by Edwards to have the criminal case against him thrown out, paving the way for a trial to begin in January. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

— After years of investigation, denials and delays, jury selection began Thursday for the criminal trial of former presidential candidate John Edwards.

Edwards sat at the defense table as about 100 potential jurors filed into a Greensboro, N.C., courtroom. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles then asked Edwards to stand and face them. He smiled and nodded as the judge introduced him.

Edwards, who served a single term in the U.S. Senate, faces six criminal counts related to nearly $1 million in secret payments made by two campaign donors to help hide the married Democrat’s pregnant mistress as he sought the White House in 2008.

“This is not a case about whether Mr. Edwards was a good husband or politician,” the judge said from the bench. “It’s about whether he violated campaign finance laws.”

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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