John Edwards' Heart Condition to Delay Trial Until Late March

A John Edwards heart condition has stalled the former Democratic Senator and Presidential candidate's criminal trial, a court heard on Friday.

John Edwards, 58, is facing trial in North Carolina for allegedly abusing $1 million of campaign finances, as part of an effort to to hide his then ongoing affair with Rielle Hunter, during his 2008 run for the White House.

At the time, Edwards was married to the late Elizabeth Edwards, who died on December 7, 2010 (aged 61) after a long battle with cancer. On January 21, 2010, Edwards admitted publicly that he is the father of Hunter's daughter Quinn.

Edwards is charged with a combined total six felony and misdemeanor counts related to donations to and payments from his failed 2008 presidential campaign. He is accused of conspiracy, issuing false statements and violating campaign contribution laws, but he denies any wrongdoing.

While John Edwards' heart condition was said to be life-threatening, and while his cardiologist wrote two letters to Judge Catherine Eagles, no details were given about what sort of illness Edwards has or what sort of surgery he is facing. Judge Eagles said, "The public has an interest in a speedy trial, and this case has already been continued twice. Ordinarily, I would try to manage something like this. But clearly there are some limitations on Mr. Edwards due to real and serious health issues."

The criminal trial has been delayed until at least March 26, according to the court source. Edwards is scheduled to undergo surgery in February. According to court records, Edwards is required to provide the court with a written medical update by February 28.

The National Enquirer, who was first to uncover the Hunter affair, claimed in December of 2011 that Edwards thought he was dying after going jogging, when his heart began pounding and he struggled to breathe. A source close to Edwards told the National Enquirer that "John fell apart in front of a pal after returning from a jog and was afraid he’d die. His heart began pounding and he was having laboured breathing. He had many symptoms of a major heart attack.

"Although John was told it was just a panic attack and not heart-related, the incident shook him."

Coincidentally, March 26 is an important date for Rielle Hunter, as well. That is the date when a North Carolina civil trial is scheduled to begin in her invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against Andrew Young, an Edwards aide during the 2008 presidential campaign. Hunter is suing Young to reclaim materials that she says belong to her, including an alleged sex tape that involves Edwards.

Young came to the fore during the Hunter scandal. He originally claimed paternity of Hunter's child. Young has since renounced that claim, and in his book "The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down," Young claims that Edwards pleaded with Young to accept responsibility for the child to protect Edwards.

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