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Among the intriguing questions from the 2008 election: When and how much did Barack Obama and his aides know about John Edwards' affair?
Early and plenty, the evidence suggests.
A Chapel Hill developer testified in Edwards' trial today that he contacted Obama's campaign shortly after a dinner with Edwards in June of 2008.
Tim Toben, who said he knew that tabloid reports of an Edwards affair with Rielle Hunter were true, said he found is "astonishing" that Edwards hoped for a high-ranking position on Obama's team.
The testimony tracks with news reports that Obama's campaign had suspicions about Edwards and Hunter early on, and were also astonished that Edwards sought to angle his way into the Attorney General's job, or even the vice presidential slot.
It never came close to happening.
Edwards confessed the affair publicly in August of 2008, less than a month before the Democratic convention that nominated Obama. He is now charged with campaign finance violations tied to efforts to cover up the relationship.
From the Associated Press coverage of the trial:
During their meal at an upscale restaurant, Edwards told Toben that he was still popular enough to be tapped as Obama's running mate or win a spot in his Cabinet, Toben said. ...
After the dinner, Toben said he called the director of Obama's campaign in the state and told him that he believed the tabloid reports about Edwards' affair were true. Toben advised that the eventual president should look closely at the rumors before offering Edwards any spot in the administration.
Toben had testified a day earlier that he once took Hunter to a private jet hangar around 4 a.m. while she was on the run from tabloid reporters. He later retrieved possessions of Hunter's from a rented house in Chapel Hill that included a signed picture of Edwards. The picture was signed: "I love you, John."
Edwards has pleaded not guilty to six counts alleging campaign finance violations. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. A key issue at the trial is how much Edwards knew about roughly $1 million in secret payments from two wealthy donors, some of which was used to hide Hunter.
