today we heard from jennifer palmieri who told the dak story of the interview edwards did with me forghtline." >> can i say, thank you, bob, for coming. >> reporter: and the teeth of a scandal, his pregnant mistress and his dying wife. let me ask you, do you have iowa fair with miss hunter? >> in 2006, two years ago, i made a mistake. >> reporter: palmieri told edwards not to do the interview if he planned to lie. a report has been published that baby of miss hunter is your baby. true? >> not true, not true. published in a super market tabloid. that is absolutely not true. >> reporter: palmieri says that he was lying about the baby not just to the public but to staff. today, palmieri told the court how she discovered the truth about rielle hunter, hired to be a videographer for the campaign after they met. she huddled with edwards and his wife, elizabeth, to try to find out how to huddle the story. elizabeth was a cancer survivor who connected well with women. a big part of the campaign was elizabeth. i don't think that if this is true, you can survive it, she told him. but in public,

palmieri said it was a very emotional scene. elizabeth worried that spending time and money on hunter makes john look even more guilty. lisa was saying, you got to hold your friends close and your enemies even closer. that rielle was a loose cannon who might go to the press. >> palmieri testified john edwards was there but said very little. >> it's important, it shows that as early as october 2007, john edwards knew that fred baron was taking steps to keep his affair quiet. >> prosecutors charge that money baron used to hide the affair amounted to illegal campaign contributions which edwards denies. >> palmieri choked up when she talked about elizabeth's final days. she said after the edwards' separated, elizabeth expressed concern that when she died, there would not be a man around who loved her. i said, i will be there. he will be there. and she says john was there tending to elizabeth when she died. she testified that edwards was at times delusional about his political prospects. she said even after he was caught by photograp

palmieri also told jurors about a meeting in an iowa hotel. elizabeth confronting barron, a meeting that included her husband. >> palmieri's testimony helps the prosecution because it shows elizabeth edwards knew about the affair in october of 2007, so he couldn't have been covering up to protect his marriage. it was to protect his campaign. >> reporter: as testimony continues, and prosecutors near the end of their case, one key voice that is yet to be heard is the woman at center of it all, rielle hunter. >> make no mistake, she will take the stand. prosecution wants to end strong, if they think she would not be a good ending she will get called by the defense. >> reporter: which means one of the most anticipated witnesses in this controversial trial could testify by the end of the week. jay gray, nbc news, greensboro, north carolina. >>> now here is a look at other stories making news "early today" in america. >>> in wisconsin police had to use spike strips to end a high speed chase involving five people who stole a van from a child daycare

. >> reporter: the most emotional point of the day was when jennifer palmieri, a friend of edwards, described mrs. edwards last days before she died of cancer. fighting through tears, she testified that mrs. edwards wor weed when she died, there would no be a man around who loved her. she testified of private meetings about hunter. she said she was in a meeting with edwards and his wife and with a benefactor and his life, whoed a vited flying rielle hunter to los angeles to go shopping.

palmieri testified john edwards was there but said very lit. >> it's important and shows as early as october 2007, edwards knew that baron was taking steps to keep his affair quiet. prosecutors charge that money, baron used to hide at fair amounted to is legal campaign contributions. she choked up when she talked about elizabeth's final days and said after the edwards separated elizabeth expressed concern that when she died, there would not be a man around who loved her. and i said, i will be there. he will be there. and she says, john was there tending to elizabeth when she died. lisa myers, nbc news, washington. >>> edwards' press secretary testified that edwards was delusional about his political prospects throughout at fair. she says even after he was caught with his mistress, he still hoped to be named attorney general. >> tonight foul play is not suspected in the death of a man in a northern virginia rest a a area. police found the man dead at the virginia welcome center westbound i 66. out of state license plates. >>> the episcopal diocese wants to hold a funeral to forgive a

she didn't want to be alone, palmieri said. fighting through tears, she was concerned that when she died, there would not be a man around who loved her. palmieri also described elizabeth's anger when she discovered the edwards campaign finance chair, fred baron, and his wife, had befriended rielle hunter. elizabeth was upset, palmieri told the jury. she just wanted rielle out of their lives completely. elizabeth felt that associating with hunter just made john look more and more guilty, palmieri said. after edwards was caught visiting hunter in the beverly hilton hotel in july of 2008, palmieri said he still had hopes of being appointed attorney general in the obama administration. and was angling for a speaking role at the democratic national convention. i told him both of those options were gone a long time ago, palmieri testified. and i told him, i thought he was deluded. now, if rielle hunter is called in by the defense, this would be the first time, robin and george, we've ever seen them together. they will be sitting abou

jennifer palmieri we want as she talked about the death of edwards' wife elizabeth. palmieri also told jurors about a heated meeting in a iowa hotel room where elizabeth edwards confronted fred barron and his wife about their support for rielle hunter. edwards has pled not guilty. he faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. >>> a tragic mistake, that's how former bauer police officers johanns messerle's attorney described it. they asked the court to overturn the 2010 conviction for involuntary manslaughter. he was released last year. his lawyers are purr seeing the appeal, because he can't aplay for a job in law enforcement with a felony on his report. a ruling is expected within three months. >>> an odd odor, a suspicious smell brought hazmat crews for an industrial complex on the peninsula this morning, workers tess immune path biomedical firm in mellow park we are heating gold in a beaker of acid over the night. a deputy investigating an unrelated suspicious car caught a whiff of the strong chemical smell. authorities say this process is supposed to take place

palmieri broke down crying as she recounted the last days -- and palmieri told her mrs.ere would not be a man around her who loved her. earlier, palmieri had dealt with reports of former senator edwards having an affair. she didn't think if the story was true, his campaign for president would be able to survive, because the story got right to the heart of what people liked about him. palmieri said she was summoned to a meeting in a hotel room in davenport iowa attended by both edwardss and wealthy trial lawyer, baron and his wife. he was one of the wealthy ben factors that gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to cover up the affair. by the time of the meeting in late 2007, much of the story was in the process of being revealed. when she got to the meeting, elizabeth edwards was very upset because baron and lisa blue had been in contact with rielle hunter. palmieri testified, quote, edwards thought they were proactively inserting edwards into the situation and it made them look nmore guilty. they explained they were trying to help kim his friends close and enemies

. >> reporter: deputy white house press secretary jen palmieri who was a communications adviser for j close friend of the late elizabeth edwards. when reports of edwards' affair surfaced she told him apparently speak budget campaign for president, don't think if it's true you'll be able to survive it because she said the story got right to the heart of what people liked about him. palmieri said she was summoned to a meeting at a hotel room in davenport, iowa, attended by both the edwards' as well as wealthy trial lawyer fred baron and his wife lisa bloom. he gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to cover up the affair, though by the time of this meeting, october 2007 much of the story was in the process of being revealed. when she got to the meeting palmieri said elizabeth edwards was very upset because baron and blue had been in contact with edwards' mistress rielle hunter. she learned lisa had taken hunter on a shopping trip. they tried to explain saying keep your friends close and your enemies closer. rielle is a loose cannon. she could go to the media. a whole stream of pro

according to palmieri, it makes edwards look more and more guilt. a year before, john edwards told me on "nightline" he was in the dark. >> i don't know why he did it or what his reasons were for doing it. >> reporter: the prosecution says it's ending its case tomorrow. the last three witnesses will be three fbi agents and one for financial supporter of edwards' campaign. one that is missing from that list is rielle hunter. now it's up to edwards' defense to call her in to testify. diane? >> if they do, thank you bob woodruff. >>> and a legal settlement to tell you about tonight. arising out of the tragedy in philadelphia. you've seen the pictures of the badge ramming the tourist boat, tosses dozens of people in the delaware river. the families of the two tourists who died will be splitting $15 million. the owners of the tourist boat and the tug boat agreed to make the payments. >>> coming up here, what the government said today about x-rays. the age in which they begin and how many are too many in a lifetime. i can't afford to ignore our retirement

palmieri heard about a plane flight, shopping trip, john edwards in the room showing knowledge of someusands of dollars. there were no details. it didn't take the government's case beyond the indictment. so the government is in the final hours now. the key for the prosecution, to prove that edwards knew or should have known he was committing a crime is still a gap in the government's case. >> hampton, they executive to be closing their case today. prosecutors indicated they will not call john edwards mistress rielle hunter to the stand. why not? >> well, you know, she and edwards share a child. it appears they share a similar version of events, of the key events in the story. edwards lawyers have indicated for months they thought rielle hunter would corroborate john edwards testimony not contradict it but the government went ahead, gave her immunity, talked about her throughout opening argument. i think the jury will be puzzled why they didn't see her on the stand. >> hampton with the latest for us. thank you so much. >>> when it comes to being a mom in the u.s., the news is not great.

jennifer palmieri can add a lot of this information later today.o show that she and john edwards were acting for the campaign, trying to help his aspirations, if not for president, then vice president and attorney general. >> let's get to this because this is about the neighbor, tim tobin, he's a neighbor a buddy of edwards' aide, andrew young, testified that he warned the obama campaign in '08 about edwards' infidelities when edwards expressed interest in being on the ticket. why does that matter? >> it matters because the prosecution's theory is that edwards made this cover-up and took this money to help him in the campaign, if not for president, then to keep him in play for vice president or attorney general. that helps the prosecution. >> professor stephen friedland, thanks for keeping us up to date. >>> so take a look at this, everybody. we go from a courtroom to what may end up in a courtroom. pulp friction, that's how the two new york major tab papers have described these allegations. two masseurs claim they were victims of unwanted advances

palmieri broke down in tears when she described a conversation between her and mrs. before she died from breast cancer. according to palmieri, she was concerned when she died there would not be a man around that loved her. although rielle hunter will not be testifying for the prosecution she is still on the defense's witness list and could be called to testify sometime later in the upcoming weeks of the trial. jon, back to you. jon: so the defense is going to be at it for weeks? >> reporter: quite possibly. when they started this trial they said that it would last up to six weeks. so we're looking at late may, possibly into the first week of june. jon: wow! jonathan serrie in greensboro. thank you, jonathan. jenna: we'll take you from north carolina to arizona now, where a man who calls himself america's toughest sheriff is in a battle, a battle brewing between joe arpaio and the justice department. federal officials announced plans to sue the maricopa county sheriff's office over allegations of civil rights violations including racial profiling. william la jeunesse

palmieri told him frankly neither of those things is going to happen.d to him, you're deluted. >> erin moriarty is also reporting on the edwards trial. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. i think it was a good day, if you want to call it a good day, for the prosecution. but i think there are going to be a lot of court watchers who will be disappointed today because the prosecution has said they're on schedule to rest their case today and there will be no rielle hunter. the speculation is over. she will not take the stand, at least for the prosecution today. >> so, she's not going to take the stand, erin. does that tell people the prosecution feels, obviously, they feel their case has been laid out well enough or is there some other strategy here? >> i think they thought she was too much of a wild card. i think that's been the talk all the way through. she helps the prosecution's case but also hurt. i think the most important part of this trial is about to happen right now. it's going to be between the prosecution's case and the defense. i think the

./ jennifer palmieri../ &pelizaabth edwards.../ the candidate's... late wife.../// áknnwáá the... money... to her husbbad's mistress.../ about ...their... ./ affair.../ ááedwardsáá said... ptat money... wwss ffom...his wife...// ááedwardsáá connributions... to hide... pielle unter .../ from his wife... and thee publii...//. dwards ddnies knowing bout the money. pa... repoot released... to congress today... says.../ &p large amounts... of....sttte-of-the--at ... ttchnnlogy ...is ááitáá says... millions of dollaas worth... of... sscurity equipment... meann for u--ss.. ii... shelved in a grapevine, scathing report áá- ...outlinee quote... "systemic fllws... hat the t-s-a." ... - backkfat, muufin tops...no one wants hoss to show through pheir clothes.one shapewear &psolution promises o smooth the lines.we put "shapeez" to the deallor dud ttet. ttstt if unsightly bulggs have you pent outtof shape... shapeez to draw the line on his produc? product? 1:28:30 lynn fram "bras are &ptoo ight, they have some loose skin, they have aamuffin topits the age old problem that just gett worse ith ag

i know jen palmieri really well and a lot of these edwards' staffers who had no clue at the time this was going on and then later didn't want to answer our questions about all the controversy that was happening. didn't really come out until later on in the game in the campaign. do we know if -- how edwards is responding? is he actually in the courtroom expressing any kind of concern about all of these staffers who are coming forward with their stories? >> reporter: you know, i must tell you that i think, my opinion, is john edwards is looking very pale these days. he looks like he's dropped some weight. his suits are hanging on him loosely. his mom and dad are not here today. so i don't know if he thought maybe this palmieri story would upset them or -- they're 80 years old. so i think it's taking a toll on the entire edwards' family . 30-year-old daughter cate sits in the front row every day. his reaction has gone from nothing to smiling along with witnesses as he recalls what they're talking about to yesterday when his chief speechwriter wendy button was on the stand, he began to po

. >> reporter: deputy white house press secretary jen palmieri who was a communications adviser for j close friend of the late elizabeth edwards. when reports of edwards' affair surfaced she told him apparently speak budget campaign for president, don't think if it's true you'll be able to survive it because she said the story got right to the heart of what people liked about him. palmieri said she was summoned to a meeting at a hotel room in davenport, iowa, attended by both the edwards' as well as wealthy trial lawyer fred baron and his wife lisa bloom. he gave hundreds of thousands of

>> reporter: jennifer palmieri is in the courthouse planning to take the stand today.t's case that john edwards knew monies were being used to cover up his affair. it didn't show that edwards knew that was illegal. as savannah has said, that is a very tough standard, showing a willful violation to meet, just because edwards knew about the i a fair being covered up doesn't mean he knew it was a crime to do so. >> i guess the question at this point is, have they made their case so far? do they need some more of these witnesses to bolster who was already a difficult prosecution? >> they're doing everything they can to corroborate what andrew young, the key witness here, has testified to. but at the end of the day, i think there will be points the government has to prove that only andrew young has testified to. so the case in some ways still rises and falls on his credibility. that's a problem for the government. the government has done a good job of bringing people in who said john edwards did know about these contributions, they knew they were going to pay for rielle hun

. >> reporter: frommer edwards spokeswoman jennifer palmieri, now a white house staffer, came to testify for the prosecution. she described a tense scene at an iowa hotel in 2007, an irate elizabeth edwards had blown up at donors who were supporting her husband's pregnant mistress rielle hunter while the finance chairman tried to calm her down. >> this is the second time that the money man baron han in close proximity to john edwards where he's essentially describing that we're hiding rielle hunter. >> reporter: edwards is charged with using illegal campaign contributions to keep his affair secret. former edwards season writer wendy button testified edwards knew all along about the payments but admitted edwards never exactly told her that. >> rielle hunter is on the witness list for both prosecution and defense, but it's not clear when or if she'll be called. if she does take the stand, she may not help either side. >> almost of witness in this case is cut both ways, some good for the government, some good for the defense. i would anticipate that rielle hunter will be the same. >> report

. >> hampton, experts and opinion out of court yesterday say jennifer palmieri was hands down the mosttness to take the stand. palmieri remind everybody works in the white house now but she's there testifying about her time working with edwards as an aide. how did her testimony help or hurt? >> well, she had something for both sides. for the government she put john edwards in a room in october '07 when fred, his supporter and friend, was talking about supporting rielle hunter in some way, keeping her close. but she also gave the most riveting testimony of the trial talking about elizabeth edwards on her deathbed wanting john edwards by her side after all he had done, elizabeth wanted john edwards there and he was there. it put edwards for the first time in a positive life. >> hampton, thank you. we appreciate it. we'll let you get back into that courtroom. talk to you later. >>> coming up, everybody. george clooney's star-studded fund-raiser. open to the public, actor nelson cruz next. >>> pippa middleton reportedly considering leaving london just so she can escape the paparazzi. but h

jennifer palmieri may have helped a bit.it's a conviction, palmieri plus cheri young may have been the difference. >> any gut feelings about the jury returning today? >> i do think that they could well come back today. it's a jury that's gotten along well with each other. they've entered and left the courtroom often in laughter. i actually saw a couple of them walk in today and one woman said to the other, come on, girls, let's get started. it's a friendly jury. you don't see divisions yet. they didn't rush to judgment but they could come back today. >> hampton, great to see you. thank you. >>> developing now, a really emotional scene in a courtroom in new brunswick, new jersey, where former rutgers university student dharun ravi is about to be sentenced. in march, ravi was convicted of hate crimes for using a webcam to watch his roommate's encounter with another man. dharun ravi is facing up to ten years in prison. this morning, clementi's mother and other family members had their opportunity to speak out. >> the court need

us know a lot of these players who worked for the edwards campaign, now in the case of jennifer palmieri, a top official in the white house and knew elizabeth edwards and grieve for the loss of her. it's hard to take. how has the jury been responding? >> this is wrenching testimony. there is testimony about what a horrible person john edwards has been. the staff knew about rielle hunter and that she was trouble, but still he lied to them and deceived them. the point is to try to get the jurors to put aside their opinions about john edwards' admittedly terrible behavior and focus on the law. the law requires for a conviction in this case that the government has to prove that john edwards knew he was committing a violation of campaign finance laws when all this was going on. one of the things that the defense will present or experts on campaign finance law would say at that time and even now there is no predicate, there is no case law out there for him to believe that payments by a third party to hide a mistress constitute campaign contributions. >> it's so interesting, lisa. thanks so muc

. >> reporter: the most emotional point of the day was when jennifer palmieri, a friend of edwards, described her last days before he died of cancer. she was worried when she died, there would no be a man around who loved her. she testified of private meetings about hunter. she said she was in a meeting with edwards and his wife and benefactor lisa blue who admitted flying rielle hunter to los angeles to go shopping in. was new to elizabeth. she was really upset. she didn't understand why they would be helping hunter, since she understood the affair was well over. it makes edwards look more and more guilt. a year befo john edwards told me on "nightline" he was in the dark. >> i don't know what his reasons for for doing it. >> reporter: the prosecution says it's ends its case tomorrow. the last three witnesses will be three fbi agents and one for financial supporter of edwards' campaign. one that is missing from that list is rielle hunter. now it's up to edwards' defense to call her in to testify. >> if they do, thank you bob woodruff. >>> and a legal settlement to tell you about tonight. aris

as jennifer palmieri, press secretary to john edwards, and close friend of elizabeth, ecounted out elizabeth angrily confronted a donor she learned was helping reielle hunter. it happened in this iowa hotel, ten months after elizabeth first discovered the affair. she said she was very up celt when she learned that fred baron and his wife were in contact with rielle hunter. she had even taken hunter to los angeles on a shopping trip. paul marry said it was a very emotional scene. elizabeth worried that spending time and money on hunter makes job look even more guilty. lisa was saighing, you got to hold your friends closer and your enemies even closer. that rielle was a loose gcannon who might go to the press. >> it's important, it shows that as early as october 2007, john edwards knew that fred baron was taking steps to keep his affair quiet. >> prosecutors charge that money baron used to hide the affair amounted to illegal campaign contributions which edwards denies. she choked up when she talked about elizabeth's final days. she said afterthe edwards' separated, she expressed concern when s

jennifer palmieri &was on the stand wednesday. she says edwwads' wife... elizabeth..nfinance chairman was seeding hushhmoney to her hhsband's mistress... rielle & huntee. palmieri says campaign chairman aad his wife 3 penies knowing abouttthe money. 3 if you're planning a summer getaway... expect aafulll flighh. the industry group "airlines for america" & releaseddits summer travel forecast wednesday..he report - projects fuller flights ttis yeaa compareddto lass year... because of more international trrvelers. that could make it parder for some passengers to 3 plans are ddsrupted by weather or other ffctors. 3 they're theewords every idol contestant wantt o hear...and sooo....you could be hearrng them too.you're going to hollywood!!e're giving away a trip to the ameriian idol finale. finale.watch foo45 tonighh for the idolllegend oo the nightt - it wwll appear on yyur screen sometime between 8 andd10 ppm. hopefully you watched last - night.. becaase ometime this 3 to all. call.the firss fiveecallerr -3 with last nighh's idol leggnd" will be entereddto win a 4 ddy v-i

palmieri also told jurors about a confrontation in a iowa hotel room in 2007.lizabeth found out campaign finance manager fred baron and his wife were providing assistance to rielle hunter and she confronted them both about it with john edwards present. she said, rielle is a loose cannon and we don't know what should do. one expert says the key to that exchange is palmieri's assertion that john edwards heard the whole conversation. >> she says he was in to him, you're deluted. >> erin moriarty is also reporting on the edwards trial. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. i think it was a good day, if you want to call it a good day, for the prosecution. but i think there are going to be a lot of court watchers who will be disappointed today because the prosecution has said they're on schedule to rest their case today and there will be no rielle hunter. the speculation is over. she will not take the stand, at least for the prosecution today. >> so, she's not going to take the stand, erin. does that tell people the prosecution feels, obviously, they feel their ca

jennifer palmieri says elizabeth was afraid she would die alone without a man around her. >>> the houses set to propose a budget. the republican controlled house wants to cut domestic programs and services instead of defense spending. the white house says president obama would vito that budget. the president is urging congress to produce a budget that blends new tax revenue with cuts across the federal budget to reduce the deficit. that, hour, is not likely to happen before the election. >>> employers could soon be banned from acquiring social media passwords and other private passwords from workers and potential employees. they introduce add new password protection bill that would make it illegal for employers to ask for passwords to smartphone, private i'm accounts, photo sharing sights or any personal information on their private computers. the new bill expands on the social networking online protection bill that was introduced last month. maryland was the first state to ban employers. >>> today the national cathedral will dedicate a new statue of civil rights pioneer rosa parks. on

i know somebody who you and i both know, jennifer palmieri, who used to be the press secretary to edwardsvery good friend of elizabeth edwards, had a very tough time on the stand yesterday. can you explain what happened? >> yes. it was the most emotional testimony of the entire trial to my mind. she told how she never believed john edwards. she never believed that andrew young was the father of this baby. she thought john edwards had become delusional about becoming vice president or attorney general, and then they asked her on cross-examination about elizabeth edwards' final days, and her voice began to crack, and she began to lose control, which is understandable, because she was there at the moment elizabeth edwards died. she was asked about elizabeth's priorities, and she said her priority was to get out of this mess with her family intact and she said she was most worried that when she died, she would die without a man who loved her at her side. and as she said that, she was sobbing and told the jury, but i told her i would be with her, and, in fact, jennifer palmieri was with her an

j john palmieri says he was delusional and wasn't even being vetted.ut john edwards was confident even though he had this stuff in his background. >> there was a lot of talk about whether rielle hunter would be called to testify but in the end she wasn't. why? >> she wasn't called at least if you listened to the testimony she has been called a loose connen. she has been called someone who is unpredictable. edwards called her a couple of times, "crazy" it's clear that the government wasn't willing to take a chance with rielle hunter but the defense might call her if they put on a case. >> so she could end up on the stand. when the court recessed yesterday edwards was overheard mouthing something to his lawyer. what did he say? >> that's their case? sort of a question. and i saw around the same time you describe there, his attorney with a half smile on his face. it sounds cocky and these guys are trial lawyers. they are cocky but talk to the other lawyers in the courtroom and a lot of people are waiting for the other shoe to drop in this case involving e

jennifer palmieri talked about confrontation between elizabeth edwards and donors over their supportband's pregnant mitt tres. edwards was a north carolina senator an ran for president as a democrat says he is innocent of campaign finance violations. prosecutors indicated that they will wrap up the case against edwards without calling his former mistress to the stand. >>> a flamboyant dealer in performance enhancing drugs livened up the roger clemens trial today. kirk redoski says he sent human growth hormone to clemens' home address. the pitching great is accused of lying to congress about taking the drugs. we'll talk about the president election year evolution on gay marriage. the fox all-stars join me on that topic after the break. rida. in here, great food demands a great presentation. so at&t showed corporate caterers how to beer collaborate by using a mobile solution, in a whole new way. using real-time photo sharing abilities, they can create and maintain high standards, from kitchen to table. this technology allows us to collaborate with r drivers to make a better experience