Nightly News   |  May 03, 2012

Former aides testify Edwards lied about affair

Although several former aides testified that John Edwards had lied to them about his affair with Rielle Hunter, Edwards’ defense lawyer established that John Edwards was not willing to sign an affidavit denying paternity when asked to do so by a tabloid. NBC’s Lisa Myers reports.

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>>> it has been a week of dramatic testimony and revelations in the john edwards trial. yesterday, daughter kate edwards left the courtroom in tears. today, a campaign aide was on the stand, raising new questions for the jury about what presidential candidate john edwards knew and when he knew it, specifically on the subject of money to take care of his secret mistress. nbc's lisa myers reports from the courthouse in greensboro, north carolina .

>> kate edwards was back by her father's side again today, looking composed. prosecutors produced a parade of former edwards aides who testified that edwards repeatedly lied to them about his affair with rielle hunter, even telling one she was crazy. then the defense had a surprise. asking former press aides about december 2007 when he said a tabloid editor suggested he might not run another story if edwards would sign a sworn statement denying the affair and denying paternity of hunter's child. abbey lowell asked, he wouldn't sign a affidavit? kornblau said, he would not. lowell, he refused? answer, he refused.

>> it's important because it shows that edwards was unwilling to break the law to help his campaign for precedency of the united states .

>> earlier in the day, potentially damaging testimony from edwards ' former body man, john davis . he testified about a conversation in late 2007 when the media was actively searching for hunter while edwards was preparing for upcoming iowa caucuses . davis said he, edwards , and donor fred baron were on baron's jet when baron said the press wasn't going to find ms. hunter because of the way he was moving her around. i asked him to stop talking. i didn't want to be aware of this. davis said he stopped talking and that edwards said nothing.

>> as damaging to edwards because it shows he knew what was going on.

>> the government alleged that money spent by baron and another donor to hide hunter amounting to illegal campaign contributions , a charge edwards denies. lisa myers , nbc news, greensboro, north carolina .