Jury Finds John Edwards Not Guilty On One Count In Trial - Mistrial On Other Counts

A North Carolina jury found John Edwards not guilty on one count and ruled a mistrial on the five others in his sex scandal cover-up and fraud trial.

After nine days of deliberation, jurors reached a verdict on count 3, the Associated Press reported Thursday: the former North Carolina senator is not guilty of accepting and receiving illegal campaign contributions to cover up his affair and child with a staffer during his 2008 presidential run.

The other counts were declared a mistrial after the jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. That doesn't mean the case is over, but the case could start again from the selection of the jury.

I want to make sure everyone hears from me and my voice, Edwards said at the Greensboro courthouse with his daughter Cate by his side. I believe that I did not do anything illegal, but I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong.

Prosecutors claimed that Edwards used $1 million in campaign money from two wealthy political donors to help hide pregnant mistress and campaign videographer Rielle Hunters as he sought the path to the White House on the national stage.

I don't have to go any further than the mirror to find the person responsible for my sins, Edwards said. He also thanked his two daughters for their support and choked up when he called, Quinn, the 4-year-old he conceived with hunter, precious.

The former U.S. senator was charged with a total of six felony charges: one count conspiracy, four counts of receiving illegal campaign funds and one count of making false statements.

The most severe punishment the disgraced politician faced was up to 30 years in prison and a fine of over $1 million, according to ABC News.