John Edwards' defense team, close to wrapping up its case, on Tuesday left open the possibility of calling the former presidential candidate and his then-mistress, Rielle Hunter, to the stand at his corruption trial.

Lawyers also might call Edwards' eldest daughter, Cate, to testify on Wednesday, and recall prosecution star witness Andrew Young, a former Edwards campaign aide.

Attorney Abbe Lowell, indicating the defense may call its last witnesses Wednesday, said he would inform the prosecution late Tuesday of those who will testify.

Prosecutors did not call Hunter to the witness stand, instead relying principally on former Edwards aides.

A friend and adviser to Edwards testified Tuesday that the candidate appeared surprised to learn an elderly heiress sent money that ended up going to Hunter and Young.

John Moylan said he believed Edwards learned about the checks from Rachel "Bunny" Mellon to Young for the first time in August 2008.

After Edwards went on ABC News to admit an affair with Hunter, Moylan took him on a trip, first to a South Carolina beach, then to Mellon's farm in Upperville, Virginia.

While Moylan and Edwards were staying with Mellon, she asked Moylan whether he had ever heard of Bryan Huffman, an interior designer. When Moylan said no, she explained to them that she had been sending checks through Huffman to Young to help Edwards.

"I was, and believe he (Edwards) was as surprised to hear it as I was," Moylan testified.

According to Moylan, Edwards responded, "Bunny, you should not be spending money on anyone."

The defense, which began its case Monday, has argued that Young largely used the money for his own personal gain, while also paying for Hunter's medical expenses during her pregnancy in an effort to hide the affair from Edwards' wife. Donations for that purpose, the Edwards team has argued, cannot be considered in violation of campaign finance laws.

Edwards, who faces six felony counts, is accused of conspiracy, making false statements and violating campaign contribution laws.

Prosecutors say Edwards broke federal law by accepting over-the-limit donations of more than $200,000 from Fred Baron, a now-deceased Texas lawyer who was Edwards' finance chairman, and about $725,000 from Mellon.

They say the candidate used the funds to hide Hunter and their daughter in an effort to keep his candidacy viable.

But defense attorneys argue the money Edwards received from the two donors was for a personal reason -- to protect Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, who was dying of cancer, and his family from public humiliation. Edwards has said his actions were wrong but not illegal.

Moylan testified that he called Baron after the Mellon conversation.

"I said 'Fred, Mrs. Mellon has been sending a significant amount of money to Andrew Young.'"

Baron replied, "That damn Andrew," according to Moylan.

During cross-examination, Moylan said that Edwards did not talk to him about the affair.

Former FBI agent Jim Walsh testified Tuesday about his investigation of financial and phone records.