Cheri Young Takes The Stand
Wife of former John Edwards aide testifies about fund transfers.-->By: Ray Doughty
Updated: May 1, 2012
Week two of the John Edwards trial began with more explosive and at times emotional testimony outlining the presidential candidate's affair and alleged cover-up.
The woman who has been described as the key to the money trail in the case took the stand on Monday.
Cheri Young did little to hide her animosity for John Edwards and his mistress Rielle Hunter.
Young told jurors Edwards knew about the donations from wealthy friends sent to hide his affair and assured her they were legal.
Young said that at times Edwards told her angrily "get the money in, get the money in."
She testified that she was "scared" when she deposited many of the checks in her family's bank account
and became emotional describing when she says Edwards asked her husband to claim responsibility for Hunter's pregnancy.
Cheri Young said she told her husband "I felt like everything had been dumped in my lap" and that she didn't want the "responsibility" if the campaign "exploded" because "I wouldn't go along," crying as she told the jury "so I ultimately decided to go along with a lie."
"She personalizing this whole situation for the Youngs and showing that it's not really about the Youngs that it was about John Edwards and that they sacrificed for him and his presidential aspirations," says Elon University law professor Steve Freidland.
The defense will likely question the level of sacrifice during a cross-examination that will focus in part on her husband's revelation under oath that the Youngs kept a majority of the donated money for their personal use.
The woman who has been described as the key to the money trail in the case took the stand on Monday.
Cheri Young did little to hide her animosity for John Edwards and his mistress Rielle Hunter.
Young told jurors Edwards knew about the donations from wealthy friends sent to hide his affair and assured her they were legal.
Young said that at times Edwards told her angrily "get the money in, get the money in."
She testified that she was "scared" when she deposited many of the checks in her family's bank account
and became emotional describing when she says Edwards asked her husband to claim responsibility for Hunter's pregnancy.
Cheri Young said she told her husband "I felt like everything had been dumped in my lap" and that she didn't want the "responsibility" if the campaign "exploded" because "I wouldn't go along," crying as she told the jury "so I ultimately decided to go along with a lie."
"She personalizing this whole situation for the Youngs and showing that it's not really about the Youngs that it was about John Edwards and that they sacrificed for him and his presidential aspirations," says Elon University law professor Steve Freidland.
The defense will likely question the level of sacrifice during a cross-examination that will focus in part on her husband's revelation under oath that the Youngs kept a majority of the donated money for their personal use.
