John Edwards mug shot released

Handout booking image of former Senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards

/ U.S. Marshals Service

Former senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards' mug shot was released on Wednesday, following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Edwards pleaded not guilty earlier this month to federal charges that he solicited and used campaign contributions to hide his mistress and their baby.

Among the charges for which he has been indicted include four counts of illegal campaign contributions, conspiracy and making false statements in connection with a cover-up of his extramarital affair.

Speaking outside the federal courthouse after his June 3 arraignment, the former North Carolina senator admitted to wrongdoing - but maintained that his actions, however unethical, were not illegal.

"There's no question that I've done wrong, and I take full responsibility for having done wrong," he said. "And I will regret for the rest of my life the pain and the harm that I've caused to others."

"But I did not break the law, and I never, ever thought I was breaking the law," Edwards said.

Edwards was offered a misdemeanor plea deal before the indictment, but the deal reportedly fell through because Edwards and his team wanted a chance to make his case for an alternative to prison time, such as home arrest.

[shameonbush]

Instead of dwelling on some pocket change to insure his presidency, lets scrutinize Bush and Cheney and just why they lied to us regarding this Iraq war with no WMD's, you know the war that we have spents BILLIONS on, you know, the LIES that we were told so that certain companies like Haliburton could make Billions of dollars on. I really don't know why we are so bent out of shape over Edwards when the true outlaws are not even questioned about their money schemes. Why are we letting them get by with this? Are we more concerned over the sex life of a candidate than the blatant lies that Bush/Cheney told to the american people in order to get their lucrative war? It appears so.

[shameonbush]

John Edwards is a great man. So he screwed around. So what? Do you think this is rare in Washington? LOL
I wish they would leave Edwards alone, he's been through enough already. Everone should just chill, none of us are perfect.

[cattiej]

I hope this Edwards rot's in prison. He kids will grow to hate him for what he has done..Hunter's kid will grow to hate him and her mother..Edwards is done...I hope he loses his law license forever. Elizabeth is smiling down from Heaven and thanking God for making sure Edwards get's his in the end...I hope Hunter ends in poor and without a friend in the world..who would want to be friends with the women when she screws around with other women's husbands. Newt is just like Edwards and neither of them deserve to be in any political office..they both deserve to be in prison...I think once an investigation comes about that Edwards will be found guilty of using campaign funds for Hunter and Newt will be found guilty of using campaign funds to buy expensive items at Tiffiny's...Say goodbye to your old life forever...Nasty Newt and Jerky John

[shameonbush]

Wow, you sure are bitter. His kids shouldn't hate him over this, nor should anyone hope they will. I rebuke you.

[cadye]

The mug shot isn't the first time Edwards has smiled at an inappropiate time. I'll never forget watching him enter the church for Elizabeth's funeral, stopping at the pew where John Kerry was standing, flashing his million dollar smile, shaking Kerry's hand and then kissing the cheeks of several women before he seemed to realize, oops, I'm at a funeral, not a political rally.This man is a real piece of work, no doubt about it.

[RealiteBites]

Im watching a report on this on the Today Show right now - I forgot all abut that sex tape that's floating around that he made with Rielle Hunter - yak!

Yeah, now that you all mention it - there is a creepiness to this mug shot isn't there? Like he doesn't see himself as being like every other person who's had to have a mug shot, like he wants people to look at his mug shot and see a glamour shot - like he's just posing for the camera.

Maybe it was strategy, but it looks kind of not right ...

[Michael12540]

Do we have any true and honest politicians any longer? Name a true and honest Candidate elected or not elected in the last 25 years?

[endrepubs]

Answer: Howard Dean.

One rebel whoop did him in. What a freakin weird country.

[wdh3007]

That is the best picture of Edwards I have ever seen now we need to get one of Weiner in the same pose.

[RealiteBites]

He looks like he went and got his hair done for this, a la Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.

What a huge fall from grace - that's what you get when you cheat on your dying wife and then use campaign funds to support your baby mama ...

[vielmann]

He photographs well, doesn't he? He's slime, but I still think the prosecution is reaching here.

[justme2012]

You thought Weiner was hacked too.

[babooph]

Ah but the Bush& Cheney mug shots are still hidden by the US propaganda system-if they had been used in 2000,the nation could have been saved...

[JV1970]

Bush and Cheney didn't cheat on their wives while their wives were dying with cancer and then lie about it!

[simpleguy234]

Yep, Bush and Cheney just killed thousands of innocent people and ruined America financially and lied about all of it. Clearly that isn't as important as being faithful to your spouse....