Former Edwards aide testifies in day two of trial

GREENSBORO, NC (WWAY) — The drama is already heating up in the courtroom for the trial of former presidential candidate John Edwards. It was the second day of court for the former North Carolina senator and the prosecution’s star witness took the stand.

Edwards’ former aide Andrew Young testified that he and his wife were “scared to death” as they accepted checks as large as $150,000 to help cover up Edwards’ affair.

Young says Edwards asked him to seek out money for his mistress, campaign videographer Rielle Hunter, who threatened to expose the affair. Young testified that when Edwards found out Hunter was pregnant, he was angry and very concerned.

“He said she was a crazy slut and there was only a one-in-three chance that it was his child,” Young testified.

Edwards has pleaded not guilty to six criminal counts related to campaign finance violations involving nearly $1 million in secret payments by two wealthy donors.

One of those donors, young says, was Rachel “Bunny” Mellon whom Edwards told him to ask for money. Mellon wrote several checks, some up to $150,000, marked as payment for furniture.

Though Young admitted the plan smelled wrong, he thought Edwards knew more about the law than he did. Young says every time he questioned the money, Edwards told him to not worry about it.

Edwards’ defense says the payments were gifts, not campaign contributions. They say what he did may have been a sin, but it was not a crime. Edwards faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.