A North Carolina jury has reached a verdict in the trial of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards on charges that money paid by wealthy donors to hush up his 2008 affair with a woman he’d impregnated amounted to illegal campaign contributions. He was running for president then.

Verdict momentarily. Conviction carries a maximum of 30 years in prison and fines.

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UPDATE: Turns out the jury reached a unanimous verdict on only one of the six counts. Initial reports said the judge sent the jury back for more deliberations. No telling how long that might be with deliberations now in the ninth day. But the jury signaled it would deadlocked on the other charges, having reached a verdict only on the question of whether money given by the wealthy Bunny Mellon was a political contribution. The judge is mulling things. It appears she’ll order some more deliberation.

UPDATE II: Jury tells judge it is deadlocked on five remaining charges.

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UPDATE III: NBC News twitter says the one decided verdict is ACQUITTAL on the charge that money given by Mellon was illegal campaign contribution.

UPDATE IV: Judge declares mistrial on remaining charges.

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Will the prosecution try again?

UPDATE V: Edwards on video.

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While I do not believe I did anything illegal … I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong

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