The career arc of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards resembles one of a tragic hero in a Greek drama – the shining young candidate, the disgraced husband and father, the liar, the adulterer and the stain on North Carolina.

And even as justice drags in its efforts to bring him to trial, he continues to infuriate people across party lines.

Edwards received more than $2 million in public financing funds during his 2008 bid for the White House. This, despite the fact that his campaign was largely over by the end of January 2008. But while his “campaign” continues to spend money on legal fees, airplane tickets, hotels and what looks an awful lot like personal expenses, the campaign has paid back just $142,000 of the $2 million it has been ordered to pay by the Federal Elections Commission.

News stories continue to emphasize that the money is owed by Edwards’ campaign – not Edwards. That’s because the FEC has no rules that would require the candidate himself to pay back the money.

That’s a shame for more than one reason, not the least of which is, those are taxpayer dollars. They certainly weren’t meant to be buying airline tickets and paying legal expenses three or four years after Edwards’ campaign ended in disgrace.

Campaign paperwork lists Julius Chambers as treasurer. Chambers is the former chancellor of N.C. Central University and a distinguished civil rights attorney, but an assistant told The Associated Press he is no longer connected to the campaign.

So who is?

That’s a question the FEC needs to find an answer for. And in the meantime, let’s put an end to the campaign’s continued spending. Edwards has put taxpayers, supporters and voters through enough pain and embarrassment already.