Superior Court Judge Abraham Penn Jones said he was tempted to send Andrew Young to jail for up to 75 days for contempt of court – he even momentarily ordered Young to jail before backing off – unless he surrendered all copies of the sex tape. He said he wouldn't jail Young's wife.
"It troubles me," Jones said. "I tried to be patient – patient and firm – but I don't want to be a fool."
Rielle Hunter, a campaign staffer who had an affair and a child with Edwards, sued the Youngs on Jan. 28, saying they had taken a video she described as "very private and personal," as well as campaign videos she shot and pictures of her daughter.
She alleged that the Youngs wanted the items to generate publicity for his book, "The Politician," which chronicles Edwards' rise and fall and provides details of his affair with Hunter.
A federal grand jury in Raleigh is investigating whether campaign funds were illegally used to cover up Edwards' affair.
