John Edwards facing criminal charges

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Justice Department plans to bring criminal charges against John Edwards after a two-year investigation into whether the former presidential candidate illegally used money from some of his political backers to cover up his extramarital affair, a person familiar with the case said yesterday.

An indictment could come within days unless the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee reaches an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to a negotiated charge, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the case's sensitivity. It was not immediately clear what charges prosecutors planned to bring.

Federal authorities have been investigating the former North Carolina senator's campaign finances, focusing heavily on money from wealthy supporters that allegedly went to keep mistress Rielle Hunter and her out-of-wedlock baby in hiding in 2007 and 2008 to protect Edwards' White House campaign from a career-ending scandal.

Prosecutors have been looking at whether those funds should have been reported as campaign contributions since they arguably aided his presidential bid. The investigation has centered largely on allegations leveled by former Edwards campaign aide Andrew Young, who as the scandal began to unfold in 2007 claimed to be the baby's father to protect his boss' career.

Young has said that two wealthy Edwards supporters supplied the money and the private jet that Young used to hide Hunter from the news media, first in North Carolina, then in Colorado, and finally at a home in California.An Edwards spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment yesterday, though his attorneys have said they are confident Edwards did not violate campaign finance laws.George Holding, the U.S. attorney in Raleigh, declined to comment. Holding was appointed by President George W. Bush but has remained on the job because North Carolina's senators asked President Barack Obama to let him finish the Edwards probe.

Hunter had been hired to shoot video of Edwards as he prepared for his White House bid. Their child was born in February 2008, a month after he dropped out of the race.