report. edwards was accused of usingly a million dollars in campaign money to hide his mistress and their love child. the jury finding edwards not guilty on one count. could not agree on five others. the judge declaring a mistrial late today. edwards had been facing up to 30 years in prison if found guilty. and even though he is now a free man, he still faces a long way from the former u.s. senator who wanted to win the white house. steve centanni with more on edwards downfall. more tonight from washington. john edwards journey to the courthouse steps today was one filled with ups and downs. it s been a long odyssey. he was born poor in 1953 in the town of robbins north carolina. his father a mill worker struggled to make ends meet and john struggled to make a mark for himself. eventually getting a law degree from the university of north carolina chapel hill in 1977. that s where met his wife elizabeth. they married that same year and went on to have four children.