Former senator and 2008 presidential candidate John Edwards said there was no question "I've done wrong" but insisted he had not broken the law.

"I took full responsibility for having done wrong," Edwards said Friday, after his indictment on conspiracy, campaign law violations. "I did not break the law and I never, ever thought I was breaking the law."

Edwards was indicted Friday on six counts, including conspiracy, issuing false statements, and violating campaign contribution laws. If convicted on all counts, the former North Carolina senator would face up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1.5 million.

The grand jury was investigating whether money given to support Edwards' mistress Rielle Hunter by Edwards' benefactors should have been considered campaign donations - a contention Edwards' team disputed.

During their affair, Hunter became pregnant with Edwards' baby, though at first he denied he was the father. Prosecutors say money that two of Edwards' political backers gave to Hunter should have been considered campaign donations, Edwards' attorneys disagree.

There have been plea discussions ongoing between Edwards' defense lawyers and federal prosecutors, but no agreement has been reached.

Edwards had not wanted to plead guilty to a felony because he could lose his law license, a source familiar with the inquiry previously told CNN.

Edwards' attorney, Greg Craig, has said his client "has done wrong in his life - and he knows it better than anyone - but he did not break the law."

He said the government's theory of the case "is wrong on the facts and wrong on the law."