Report: Edwards mulls plea deal

RALEIGH, N.C., June 1 (UPI) -- A grand jury investigation into former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. has been postponed while he discusses a plea deal, CNN reported Wednesday.

Citing sources it said were familiar with the inquiry, CNN said the grand jury had been scheduled to convene in North Carolina this week. Instead, Edwards' legal team is evaluating whether to have him plead guilty to a felony charge, as federal prosecutors want him to.

At issue is whether the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee and 2008 presidential hopeful illegally siphoned more than $1 million in campaign money to pay for the silence and living costs of his mistress, Rielle Hunter -- with whom he fathered a child -- and an aide who had said he was the child's father until Edwards admitted paternity.

That aide, Andrew Young, wrote a book, "The Politician," in which he outlined the alleged details of the cover-up created by Edwards, CNN said.

The money went to Young and Hunter directly from donors or to intermediaries and was not reported on campaign disclosure forms. Prosecutors say the money was meant to keep the campaign going.

Attorneys for Edwards counter that the money was meant only to keep Edwards' wife from learning of the affair and were legal gifts not connected to the campaign.

In May the Justice Department brought charges in the case.

"John Edwards has done wrong in his life -- and he knows it better than anyone -- but he did not break the law," Greg Craig, the lead attorney for Edwards said.

Edwards faces possible jail time and disbarment.