英语新闻阅读：爱德华兹因非法使用竞选捐款被起诉

英语自学网

　　A federal grand jury has indicted former U.S. Senator and presidential
candidate John Edwards on charges he violated campaign finance laws by using
political donations to keep an extramarital affair secret.
        　　The case includes six counts: one count of conspiracy, four counts of
illegal campaign contributions and one count of false statements. It was filed
on Friday in Edwards' home state of North Carolina.
        　　Reports that Edwards' lawyer, Gregory Craig, would be in North Carolina
Friday had fueled speculation that federal prosecutors were ready to indict
Edwards or were negotiating a plea agreement with him in order to avoid a trial.
Edwards resides in North Carolina and was elected to the U.S. Senate from there
in 1998.
        　　The case centers on money paid to Edwards' mistress, Rielle Hunter, with
whom he fathered a child, and to a former aide, Andrew Young, who previously
claimed paternity of the girl.
        　　The money came from two wealthy supporters of Edwards' 2008 presidential
campaign, and prosecutors say the funds should have been reported as campaign
donations. His lawyers said he did not break the law. They said the money was a
gift that was intended to keep the affair secret from his wife, Elizabeth.
        　　Elizabeth Edwards died last year after a long battle with cancer.