Former aide testifies in John Edwards trial

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Andrew Young was once much more than an aide to John Edwards.

Young spent long hours driving to and from political events with the two-time Democratic presidential candidate. They went to basketball games together to root for the Tar Heels and buddied around at Edwards' beach house. Young was even tasked with buying Christmas presents for the Edwards children.

"We were just North Carolina boys and had a lot in common," Young testified yesterday.

And when Edwards' mistress got pregnant in 2007 amid a presidential campaign, Young falsely claimed paternity of his boss' child and invited the woman, Rielle Hunter, to move into his Chapel Hill home with his wife and children.

Young was the first witness called by prosecutors yesterday following opening statements in Edwards' criminal trial. His testimony is expected to be the linchpin of the government's case that Edwards masterminded a conspiracy to use nearly $1 million in secret payments from two wealthy donors to help hide his pregnant mistress as he sought the White House in 2008.

Edwards, 58, has pleaded not guilty to six criminal counts related to alleged violations of federal campaign finance laws.

"It wasn't just a marriage on the line," prosecutor David Harbach said in his opening statement. "If the affair went public it would destroy his chance of becoming president, and he knew it . . . He made a choice to break the law."

U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles seated 12 jurors and four alternates yesterday morning. Edwards represented the state for one term in the U.S. Senate.

Edwards stared intently at Young as his former confidant testified. In nearly two hours of talking about Edwards, Young never looked in his direction.

For Edwards' defense team, destroying Young's credibility is key to their strategy of keeping the former presidential contender out of prison. They allege that much of the money at issue in the case was siphoned off by Young and his wife to pay for a $1.5 million house finished in 2008.

"Follow the money," defense lawyer Allison Van Laningham urged jurors in her opening statement. "John Edwards did not get any of this money. Not one cent."