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Judge in John Edwards Corruption Trial Tells Jurors to Keep Deliberating

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- The judge in John Edwards' campaign corruption trial is telling jurors to keep deliberating after she apparently misunderstood them and thought they had reached a verdict on all six counts.

The jury was called into the courtroom Thursday and U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles said she understood the panel had reached a verdict on all counts. That's when the jury foreman said no.

The jury said it had reached a verdict on one count of taking illegal campaign contributions. The money involves payments from wealthy donor Rachel "Bunny" Mellon.

The verdict was not announced.

Edwards is accused of masterminding a plan to use money from wealthy donors to hide his pregnant mistress as he ran for president in 2008.

Original post below:

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Jurors have reached a verdict in John Edwards' campaign corruption trial.

The verdict will be read Thursday. The jurors have been deliberating for about nine days.

Edwards is accused of masterminding a plan to use money from wealthy donors to hide his pregnant mistress as he sought the White House in 2008. Defense attorneys say Edwards did not knowingly break campaign finance laws. They also say the payments to hide his mistress Rielle Hunter were gifts, not campaign contributions.

Edwards is charged with six criminal counts. They include conspiracy to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act, accepting contributions that exceeded limits and causing his campaign to file a false financial disclosure report.

He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

This post will be updated.

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