John Edwards — the former Democratic Party rising star and famed trial lawyer whose celebrity political status came crashing down in the wake of an adulterous affair and a campaign finance scandal — is now getting back on the career track, opening a law firm with his daughter Cate.
The firm will have offices in North Carolina and Washington, Politico reported.
“It is a privilege to practice again, and we want to take on cases that, through litigation, change social inequalities in favor of the greater good,” he said in a statement reported by WRAL in North Carolina. “In building Edwards Kirby, we sought a team that has championed the causes of economic and social equality in court and in hundreds of communities across the country.”
Ms. Edwards also had a statement, speaking of the firm’s touted higher mission and her father’s touted desire to help those less fortunate: “His life’s mission, I think, has been to help people. Edwards Kirby is founded for that purpose — to give people a voice, to give the disenfranchised a voice.”
Mr. Edwards has maintained a low profile for more than a year after being acquitted of misusing campaign funds during the 2008 race. He was actually acquitted of one of six charges; jurors couldn’t reach a determination on the other five charges, and the judge ruled a mistrial.
His daughter also made clear that Mr. Edwards had no immediate plans to launch a new political career and said his law firm was not being built for that purpose, Politico reported.
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The announcement came just weeks after other media outlets reported on Mr. Edwards’ former mistress, Rielle Hunter, and the launch of her tell-all book.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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