John Edwards Repays $2.1M to Taxpayers

John Edwards' campaign has repaid more than $2.1 million in public matching funds it received after the Democrat ended his bid for the 2008 Democratic nomination. An FEC rep confirmed yesterday that the agency had received the money. The bipartisan election commission ruled unanimously last year that Edwards was improperly paid the taxpayer money after he suspended his campaign on Jan. 30, 2008. Edwards appealed that ruling, which the FEC upheld last month.

The campaign was given 30 days to send a check to the US Treasury, a deadline set to expire this week. In other legal-woe news, Edwards now faces a criminal trial set to begin tomorrow in Greensboro, NC, over federal charges over campaign finance violations related to nearly $1 million paid by two wealthy donors to help hide his pregnant mistress as he sought the White House. Edwards has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and as much as $1.5 million in fines. (More John Edwards stories.)