Lawyer leaves John Edwards' defense team

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- A lawyer has left former U.S. Sen. John Edwards' defense team after questions about a conversation he had with a key figure in the case, a report says.

The Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer reported Wade Smith, a well-known defense attorney, left the defense team after prosecutors raised questions about a 2009 conversation he had with Alex Forger.

Forger, a New York lawyer, had advised Bunny Mellon, one of two wealthy supporters from whom Edwards is accused of secretly obtaining contributions to hide his pregnant mistress from the public during his 2008 presidential campaign.

The News and Observer reported prosecutors say Smith told Mellon's attorney the payments could have benefited Edwards.

The conversation between Smith and Forger could make Smith a possible witness in the trial if prosecutors or defense attorneys asked him to elaborate on what was said, and a trial court lawyer can't also be a witness in the same case, the News and Observer said.

Smith declined to comment.

Prosecutors also have raised questions about another member of Edwards' defense team, Abbe Lowell, because Lowell has represented two possible witnesses -- Lisa Blue Baron, the widow of Fred Baron, who made payments key to the case, and Harrison Hickman, a political adviser to Edwards.

Edwards, 58, faces charges he violated campaign finance laws by using funds from his unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign to conceal his pregnant mistress from the public. Prosecutors say the donations exceeded legal limits and amounted to campaign contributions because they were intended to keep the affair secret to preserve his presidential bid.

The payments went toward living, medical and other expenses for videographer Reille Hunter, with whom Edwards had an extramarital affair and a child.

His lawyers say he wanted to hide the affair and Hunter's pregnancy from his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, and that hundreds of thousands of dollars from his wealthy friends went to others, not him, and were gifts.

Defense lawyers deny a crime occurred and say the charges are unconstitutionally vague.