John Edwards asks judge for delay in sex tape case

Video: All smiles for John Edwards in mug shot

Open in new window

2. Closed captioning of: All smiles for John Edwards in mug shot

   Advertise | AdChoices

   >>> are new developments in the legal saga of former presidential candidate john edwar edwards . his lawyers are expected in court a day after this mug shot of edwards was released. lisa myers has the latest on the story. good morning.

   >> reporter: good morning. today lawyers for john edwards are asking a north carolina judge to delay further questioning of him in the legal tug of war over who owns the infamous sex tape of edwards with rielle hunter. as the mug shot underscores, edwards now has to worry about far more serious criminal proceedings . it looks more like a pub lis the ti photo than a mug shot . the disgraced former presidential candidate smiling broadly after he was booked, fingerprinted and charged with six felonies.

   >> it's one of the best-looking mug shots i have seen.

   >> reporter: some might see the mug shot as arrogant. others see it as evidence of his likability and potential to connect with jurors.

   >> if i were the prosecutors i would look at the mug shot and think carefully about what kind of case they have.

   >> reporter: because of the criminal case , edwards is trying to delay more embarrassing questions in the civil case in which rielle hunter and edwards former aid andrew young are fighting over who owns a sex tape of hunter and edwards shot while he was running for president. experts predict the judge today will postpone a videotaped deposition scheduled next week.

   >> the defendant in a criminal case has a privilege against self-incrimination. doesn't have to answer questions.

   >> reporter: while awaiting trial, edwards can travel only in the continental u.s. , must report to authorities and must avoid all contact with bunny melon, the key witness in the case. edwards is charged with soliciting and covering up almost $1 million provided by melon and another donor to keep hunter and, la later, their child hidden while he ran for president. it amounted to illegal campaign contributions to further his candidacy. edwards ' lawyer said the money was given to hide the affair from his wife, elizabeth.

   >> i did not break the law.

   >> reporter: while denouncing edwards ' behavior, many legal experts said the justice department overreached, that the case is weak. a former federal prosecutor doubts it will ever get to a jury.

   >> no. i don't think it will come to trial. i think it will end in a plea bargain to a small misdemeanor.

   >> reporter: a plea agreement is still possible but a source close to the case said edwards ' lawyers are gearing up for court and are expected to ask for a trial date early next year.

   >> thank you very much for

   Show transcript