John Edwards found not guilty

The Justice Department are unlikely to retry John Edwards after he was found nut guilty of accepting illegal campaign contributions from a supporter in 2008, a source has told news agency The Associated Press.

Former Senator John Edwards appeared outside court in North Carolina to thank his supporters and his family for standing by him during his criminal trial for campaign fraud. He used the opportunity to apologise to his family, and said:

"I want to make sure that everyone hears from me that while I do not believe I did anything illegal, or ever thought I was doing anything illegal, I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong. There is no one else responsible for my sins."

Former Senator John Edwards appeared outside court in North Carolina to thank his supporters and his family for standing by him during his criminal trial for campaign fraud.

He started by thanking the jurors for their diligence and welcomed their "fair and just" result.

He said he did not think God was through with him, and that he still had a lot of work to do in his life.

Lawyers for former Senator John Edwards said his client committed "many sins but no crimes" and said the charges against him should never have been brought to trial.

Edwards was found not guilty of one count of campaign fraud, and the jury were unable to reach a verdict on the remaining five counts, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial.

Former Senator John Edwards has been found not guilty on one count of campaign fraud.

The judge has ruled a mistrial on the five remaining charges. MSNBC are outside the courthouse.

A jury in North Carolina has reached a verdict in the criminal trial of former Senator John Edwards.

Edwards is accused of using campaign funds to hide his pregnant mistress as he sought the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.