(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington asked a court Wednesday for permission to file a motion on behalf of John Edwards in a campaign finance case against the former presidential candidate. Melanie Sloan is the Executive Director of the group and said the move is not about John Edwards.

"We're not defending John Edwards per se. His conduct was despicable and loathsome and there's really nothing nice you can say about it, but that said, the government can't go around prosecuting every politician who cheats on his wife and lies to the press.  That would be a very long list," said Sloan.

The group maintains that the federal government's case against Edwards would radically alter campaign law for the worse if it succeeds.