NOTES chapter 6 note 1 By Edwin Edwards' own count (up to the 1997 federal investigations) he has been hauled before twenty-two grand juries looking into everything from his gambling and lavish lifestyle to his dispensing of state contracts and patronage. During his third term, he was indicted and tried on federal racketeering charges stemming from the awarding of highly prized state hospital permits. The first trial ended in a mistrial as a result of a hung jury. In the second, although testimony showed Edwards profited by $2 million in his dealings, the jury decided no law had been violated, and he was acquitted (Tomaso 1995).