The U.S. Department of Justice has indicated that it will allow John Edwards to be prosecuted in an investigation into alleged campaign finance violations, North Carolina station ABC11 reports.
According to the local outlet, the 2008 presidential candidate is expected to be indicted in the case.
NBC News confirms that the Justice Department will permit prosecutors to file criminal charges against Edwards.
WRAL News reported on Tuesday that the culmination of the probe was imminent.
Sources told WRAL News on Tuesday that a major development would occur in the next two weeks. It could be an indictment or perhaps a plea deal. Sources said it's unlikely that prosecutors would walk away from the case.
The AP relays background on the case:
Edwards' mistress Rielle Hunter has sued former campaign aide Andrew Young to have a sex tape and other items returned to her. Young has said he helped cover up Edwards' affair during the 2008 presidential campaign and worked for months to keep Hunter in hiding.
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Edwards has admitted to the affair and fathering Hunter's child. She worked as a videographer in 2006 for Edwards' political action committee.
WRAL reports:
Former Edwards aide Andrew Young wrote in his tell-all book, "The Politician," that heiress Rachel "Bunny" Mellon gave Edwards a total of $700,000 as a gift. The so-called "Bunny money" helped fund the cover-up of Edwards' affair with video producer Rielle Hunter, who was pregnant with the former U.S. senator's child.
Political observers have said the money was a campaign contribution and should have been noted in Edwards' campaign finance reports.
ABC News' Jonathan Karl wrote on Twitter late on Tuesday night, "A source close to the case tells ABC Edwards is aware he is facing an indictment and is considering his options."
Below, a report from ABC11 on the latest developments in the Edwards case:
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