John Edwards' philandering has gone federal. It might soon hit the courts. And to think just last summer the scandal was penny ante: stuck in the tabloid swamps, save for a disappointing ABC finale.

No doubt, Edwards' adultery is officially Real News: After the National Enquirer last week reported the Democratic politician was under grand jury investigation for possible misuse of his presidential campaign funds, a major news organization actually started looking into the story instead of ignoring it, like last time. And what do you know: It turns out the supermarket tabloid was right. Again.

Edwards mistress Rielle Hunter produced videos for the politician's presidential campaign, and received more than $100,000 for her services. Since keeping a mistress is not an acceptable use of campaign money, there is an investigation into whether the payments were legit, the Associated Press confirmed.

In one case, Hunter received $14,000 from a political action committee the same day Edwards' presidential campaign paid the committee $14,000 for "furniture purchase," making it appear the money was — perhaps! — being laundered.

The numbers might sound boring, but the AP shows how a media feeding frenzy could soon unfold:

The two-time Democratic presidential candidate acknowledged Sunday that investigators are assessing how he spent his campaign funds — a subject that could carry his extramarital affair from the tabloids to the courtroom.

A trial would mean testimony, subpoenas, evidence and lord knows how many months of proceedings. John Edwards might somehow have a 2009 that's even worse than his 2008.