>>>
the government overreached in its indictment former presidential candidate
john edwards
.
edwards
is accused of using campaign funds to hide an
extramarital affair
. tonight even those with no love for
john edwards
are scratching their heads. more about this. lisa.
>> reporter:
good evening, lester. this indictment put an exclamation point on
john edwards
stunning political fall. today there was unusual criticism, not of him but of the
justice department
. in the state which launched
john edwards
once promising political career, banner
headlines today
and condemnation.
>>
in public opinion, he's lost. and i think rightfully so, because what he did was wrong.
>>
he doesn't seem to comprehend right from wrong.
>>
edwards
spent the day out of sight with his children at the family estate. a friend of his wife
elizabeth
, who died six months ago of
breast cancer
, told nbc that despite john's betrayal, nobody wanted him to face
criminal charges
. she said
elizabeth
's friends worry about the impact on the children. emma claire and jack and hope the case never comes to trial. the charges center on almost a million dollars secretly provided by two wealthy donors and used to keep
edwards
mistress, rielle hunter and their child hidden away in lavish homes and on
private jets
while he ran for president. the government argues even though the payments did not go to his campaign, they amounted to unlawful
campaign contributions
meant to keep his candidacy viable.
edwards
lawyer say the money was a gift from friends to help hide the affair from
elizabeth
. the indictment has triggered unusual criticism of the
justice department
, even among those usually pleased to see a politician prosecuted.
>>
i think that
john edwards
is a lousy
human being
but i think this is a really lousy and flimsy
criminal case
.
>> reporter:
a "
washington post
" editorial said it is troubling that the
justice department
would choose to devote its scares resources to pursuing this questionable case.
>>
i did not break the law. and i never, ever thought i was
breaking the law
.
>> reporter:
for this to be a criminal violation, prosecutors also must show
edwards
knew he was
breaking the law
.
>>
i think this is going to be a tough case for the government to prove. i by no means think it's a slam-dunk.
>> reporter:
still some experts argue this case is critical to cracking down on campaign abuses.
>>
what the government says is there has to be a line.
john edwards
crossed that line. we believe it's
criminal behavior
, and that's why we saw an indictment.
>> reporter:
this case was thoroughly reviewed by the
justice department
and prosecutors insist they have a strong case and can prove that
edwards
knowingly broke the law. lester.
>>
lisa meyers in raleigh for us tonight. thank you.
>>>
a developing story tonight the
“ ”