Updated 5:28 p.m. ET

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards thanked a federal jury today for a "fair and just result" after he was found not guilty on one count of accepting illegal campaign contributions.

A mistrial was declared on five other charges after the jury declared it was hopelessly deadlocked.

"I do not believe I did anything illegal," Edwards said. "I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong. There is no one else responsible for my sins. ... I don't have to go any further than the mirror. It's me and me alone."

The jury's split verdict, coming on the ninth day of deliberations, capped a wild day at the U.S. District Court in Greensboro, N.C.

Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, was accused of using nearly $1 million from Rachel "Bunny" Mellon and Fred Baron to cover up his affair with Rielle Hunter, a former campaign videographer.

Earlier in the day, U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles ordered the jury to continue its deliberations after learning it had reached unanimous agreement on Count 3, dealing with campaign contributions from Mellon. That charge could have carried a five-year prison sentence.

At that time, lawyers for Edwards asked for a mistrial when it looked as though there was no agreement on the other five charges. Eagles, an appointee of President Obama, called the jury into her courtroom this afternoon with the understanding that jurors had reached a decision on all six counts, but the foreman told her that was not the case.

The eight-man, four-woman jury began deliberations Friday, May 18. The jury had asked to see specific evidence, including a handwritten note by Mellon about the payments she made to help conceal Hunter.

Abbe Lowell, Edwards' attorney, said in closing arguments that the case should define the difference between "a sin and a felony." He contended there was no question that Edwards was unfaithful to his wife, lied repeatedly about his affair and fathered a daughter out of wedlock with Hunter. But did he break the law?

Prosecutors argued that Edwards "knowingly and willingly" accepted the money from Mellon and Baron, now deceased, to cover up his extramarital affair, so he could further his political aspirations. There was testimony that Edwards was angling to be Barack Obama's attorney general or get a high-profile speaking slot at the 2008 Democratic convention.

The central issue was whether the money from Mellon and Baron was a gift or a campaign donation. At that time, individuals could not contribute more than $4,600 to a presidential candidate.

In his statement from the courthouse steps in North Carolina, Edwards thanked his parents and all of his children. Eldest daughter Cate was at her father's side nearly every day of the seven-week trial and was emotional hearing testimony about her father and mother, Elizabeth.

Edwards also acknowledged his "precious" daughter Quinn, whose mother is Hunter, saying he loves the child "more than any of you can imagine."

Alluding to his future, the former North Carolina senator and noted trial lawyer said he believes he can help disadvantaged children in poor areas. "I don't think God's through with me," Edwards said. "I really believe he thinks there are some good things I can do."