Former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards, 86, announces his run for congress with his 35-year-old wife and baby son at his side

Former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards says he will run for US Congress at the age of 86

Made the announcement this morning in Baton Rouge, accompanied by his wife, Trina, 35 and son Eli Wallace

Was jailed for eight years in 2002 and is barred from holding gubernatorial office for 15-years

However he is not barred from seeking election to Congress

Featured in a short-lived reality series called 'The Governor's Wife'



Starred alongside Trina his two daughters, Anna and Victoria who are in their 60s from his first marriage

Also starred his two teenage boys Trevor and Logan from his second marriage



He celebrated the birth of his son late last year with his wife, 51-years his junior, and now former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards has decided to run for election to US Congress at the age of 86. 

Edwards, a Democrat and four-term Louisiana governor, who served an eight-year prison term on racketeering charges, launched his candidacy for a seat currently held by Republican Bill Cassidy, who is running for the U.S. Senate. 

'I've given a great deal of thought to this ... and I acknowledge that there are good reasons why I should not run ... but there are better reasons why I should,' Edwards told reporters at the press club in Baton Rouge, part of the district he is seeking to represent. 

'I haven't had this much attention since the trial,' he quipped. 

Happy family: Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, 86, his wife Trina Scott, 35, and their baby Eli attend a luncheon where Edwards announced his run for congress in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on March 17, 2014

Edwards was accompanied by his wife Trina, who is more than half-a-century his junior and their baby, Eli Wallace , who was being looked after by Edwards' two adult daughters from his first marriage. 

Running again: Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, 86, walks with his wife Trina Scott Edwards, 35, and his son Eli Edwards before announcing his run for U.S. Congress this morning in Baton Rouge, Lousiana

Edwards served two terms as governor in the 1970s and was re-elected in 1983.  He then managed a comeback for a fourth term in 1991. 

It was during that term that he came under federal scrutiny in connection with the state's licensing of riverboat casinos and was convicted by a jury on charges of racketeering. 

Despite the convictions, the colorful politician still has strong support in the state. 

Edwards, his wife and his daughters - both of whom are older than Trina - were the stars of a short-lived reality television show called 'The Governor's Wife'. 

A felony conviction arising from the licensing of riverboat casinos in his fourth term led to eight years in prison.  His announcement Monday came during a Press Club luncheon at a Baton Rouge casino. 

Edwards was the dominant figure in Louisiana politics for much of the late 20th century despite a series of scandals that resulted in numerous investigations and four federal trials, one of which resulted in conviction. 



He retired from politics in 1996, before it became clear that he was again under investigation in the case that would result in his imprisonment. 

Before and after his prison term, he defended himself as a victim of an unfair federal judge in Baton Rouge, perjured testimony by former friends who had sought casino licenses and an overzealous federal government. 



Fit as a fiddle: Edwin Edwards, 86, spent eight years in prison following a felony conviction arising from the licensing of riverboat casinos in his fourth term as Governor

Formidable team: Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, 86, walks with his wife Trina Scott Edwards (2R) and his son Eli Edwards this morning - Edwards' family are the stars of their own A&E show

Father: Edwin Edwards, his wife Trina Scott and their baby Eli attend the luncheon where he ended months of speculation and announced his run for the US Congress

Federal prosecutors have denied all of those accusations. 

Indeed, the political firebrand had his own reality show air on A&E which featured the quirky relationship between former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards and his 35-year-old wife Trina Scott. 

The show's run ended after eight episodes. 



The 51-year age gap is not the strangest part in the Edward’s unusual love story.  The pair actually met while Edwards was serving time on racketeering charges. 

The show featured the drama of the blended family and showcased how Edwards is picking up the pieces from the political shenanigans that landed him in prison. 

Known for his charisma in politics, Edwards was sentenced to prison on racketeering charges in 2001. 

He was in jail from 2002 to January 2011 for his role in a bribery and extortion scheme to rig riverboat casino licenses during his fourth term in the early 1990s. 

Parents: Trina Edwards, his third wife, gave birth to their child, Eli Wallace Edwards, last August

After prison: Edwards regained the public eye soon after leaving jail in 2011, marrying a woman five decades his junior and starring with her in a short-lived reality TV series



Husband and wife: Edwin Edwards, (left), poses with wife Trina Scott Edwards, (right), for photo, before speaking at the Baton Rouge Press Club, Monday, March 17, 2014, in Baton Rouge

Trina, who was in school at the time, picked up a copy of Leo Honeycutt’s biography of the former governor and became fascinated with her future husband’s story. 

She began writing to Edwin who then arranged for her to visit him in prison. 

Edwards explained how they met in an interview with Fox411. ' I was in the last year of my prison term…and after she read the book, she became interested in my career and asked to visit me. 



And I arranged for her to visit me and after that we got to know each other well and she came to visit me every visiting day thereafter. 

'And that’s an unusual story for a man my age and a beautiful young woman her age,' Edwards continued. ' But thank goodness it happened.  They sent me to prison for life, look what I came back, a good-looking wife.' 

Father and son: Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, 86, walks with Eli Edwards before announcing his run for U.S. Congress

Both Trina and Edwin admit their story is 'unique,' but insist their relationship works for them. 

'My husband is an amazing husband,' Trina Edwards said. ' He’s a wonderful father.  Our marriage is better than most people’s marriage when they’re the same age.' 

'I don’t know how it happened or why it happened but I absolutely fell in love with him,' Trina said. 



'And besides that, he doesn’t have as much money as most people think.  So I’d be a pretty poor gold digger if that’s what I was in for.' 

The show was billed as featuring the interesting dynamic between Edwards' other children. 



Short lived: Prison pen pals turned lovers, Edwin and Trina Edwards starred in a short-lived A&E reality show show The Governors Wife

Happy couple: The Governor's Wife will follow the lives of ex-Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, 86, and his wife Trina Scott Edwards, 35

Characters: The reality show featured Mr. Edwards.  His daughters (center) Anna and Victoria are prominent along with Trina's two teenage boys (right)

He has four children by his first wife Elaine.  Two of his daughters Anna and Victoria (who are now in their 60s), will appear on the show. 

Anna is a 63-year-old, four-time divorcee, and Victoria is described as 'a hardened 60-year-old ex-showgirl.' 

Scott also has two teenage boys, Trevor and Logan, from a previous marriage who will also be included in the reality program. 

'People are going to be surprised at how normal in most respects our lives are,' the former Governor said before the show launched.