Mistrial declared in John Edwards case

After nine days of deliberations, the jury in the John Edwards corruption trial in Greensboro, N.C., said on Thursday that it could agree on a verdict for just one of six counts but remained deadlocked on the others--and U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles declared a mistrial.

The one count the jury agreed on--count three--was related to money given to Edwards by Rachel "Bunny" Mellon, a wealthy Texas heiress. The jury found Edwards not guilty of that count.

Earlier Thursday, Eagles asked the 12-member jury to continue deliberations and come to a unanimous decision on the remaining five counts, but the jury retued without one.

Outside the courthouse, Edwards--flanked by his attoey, Abbe Lowell, his daughter Cate and his two elderly parents after the verdict was read--spoke briefly, first thanking the jury.

"I think those jurors were an examplar for what juries are supposed to do in this country," Edwards, a former lawyer, said. "They were very, very impressive."

"I want to make sure everyone hears from me," he continued. "While I don't believe I did anything illegal, I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong.

"There is no one else responsible for my sins," Edwards added. "I am responsible."

Edwards had been charged with conspiracy, four counts of receiving illegal campaign contributions and one count of making false statements for allegedly soliciting and secretly spending over $925,000 to cover up his affair with Rielle Hunter, a campaign videographer, during the 2008 presidential election. He faced up to 30 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines if he had been convicted on all counts.

[Edwards outside the federal courthouse in Greensboro, N.C., May 31, 2012. (Chuck Burton/AP)] Edwards outside the federal courthouse in Greensboro, N.C., May 31, 2012. (Chuck Burton/AP)Click image to see more photos.

The jury began deliberations on May 18 after a month of testimony that covered the sordid details of Edwards' affair with Hunter, the elaborate cover-up and campaign finance law.

Prosecutors said Edwards knew exactly what he was doing in 2008 when he used nearly $1 million in campaign funds to cover up his affair with Hunter.

Lawyers for the former presidential candidate claimed the payments from Mellon and trial lawyer Fred Baron were intended as personal gifts, not political contributions, to shield Edwards' wife from leaing of Hunter's pregnancy with his child. Elizabeth Edwards, who was battling cancer at the time, died in 2010.

The defense argued that while he may have been a "bad husband," he did not violate any federal laws.

Edwards did not testify during the trial, nor did Hunter, who lives in Charlotte, N.C., with Frances Quinn, her four-year-old daughter with Edwards.