It was the political trial of the decade, starring a hidden child born to a secret, high-octane mistress; an ambitious first lady battling cancer; a loyal daughter watching in the wings; and an emotionally volatile campaign aide condemning his old boss. But in the end, a judge declared a mistrial on five of six counts against John Edwards after a jury was only able to reach a verdict on one charge, which involved donations from heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon. Although the outcome of the trial leaves Edwards essentially unscathed in the court of public opinion he has not come off so easily. Melinda Henneberger, Washington Post political writer, analyses the outcome.