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Edwards' defense team weighs its final witnesses

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Attorneys for John Edwards indicated Tuesday their case was winding down, but they were not yet saying whether they would call to the witness stand the former presidential candidate or his mistress.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Attorneys for John Edwards indicated Tuesday their case was winding down, but they were not yet saying whether they would call to the witness stand the former presidential candidate or his mistress.

Defense attorneys said they would make a decision later Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear when they would make it public.

After testimony ended for the day with the trial still focusing on financial records, Edwards' attorneys said they had not made a final decision on whether to call Edwards, his oldest daughter, Cate, or his mistress, Rielle Hunter. They could also recall Edwards' once-close confidant and aide, Andrew Young.

Lead defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said they may call some or all of the remaining potential witnesses.

"We may also very well be done tomorrow," Lowell told the judge.

Edwards is accused of masterminding a plan to use about $1 million from two wealthy donors to hide his pregnant mistress as he ran for the White House in 2008. Edwards has pleaded not guilty to six counts of campaign-finance violations. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Records introduced Tuesday at the corruption trial show his campaign-finance chairman paid the candidate's mistress a $9,000 monthly cash allowance, on top of providing flights on private jets, stays at luxury resorts, and a $20,000-a-month California rental mansion.

Wealthy Texas lawyer Fred Baron is one of two political supporters who combined gave about $1 million to help hide Hunter. Evidence showed Baron was making regular deposits into Hunter's checking account, the sum totaling $74,000.

The deposits began in June 2008 - several months after Edwards ended his White House run - and continued until December 2008, two months after Baron died. Edwards' defense has argued any money spent after his bid cannot be a campaign contribution. Prosecutors say Edwards was still seeking the Democratic vice presidential nomination or a spot as attorney general.

Edwards' attorneys have said that he did not know about the money from Baron and wealthy heiress Rachel "Bunny" Mellon - and that even if he did, the cash was not a campaign contribution because it was intended to hide Hunter from Edwards' wife, not the public.