If John Edwards is guilty of what he’s been charged with, he should be punished severely — if for no other reason than to send a message.

Edwards was indicted last week on charges of illegally spending campaign contributions to hide his mistress and their baby from the public during Edwards’ 2008 run for the White House. The indictment contained six felony counts,  including conspiracy, four counts of receiving illegal campaign contributions and one count of false statements for keeping the spending off the campaign’s public finance reports.

Just to clear things up, Edwards did not spend taxpayers’ money — revenue from taxes paid by the public — as some people have said or written in recent days. The nearly $1 million he spent, according to the indictment, came from contributors to his 2008 campaign. That’s money from private sources — individuals, businesses and corporations — and not public money.

The nearly $1 million in payments were made with money from two Edwards supporters, according to the indictment, which reads, in part, ‘‘Edwards knew that public revelation of the affair and the pregnancy would destroy his candidacy.’’

The federal government’s lawyers contend the spending was illegal because Edwards should have reported it on public campaign finance filings and it exceeded the $2,300 limit per person for campaign contributions.

Gregory Craig, Edwards’ lawyer, argues there is no way Edwards or anyone else would have known such payments should be treated as campaign contributions.

‘‘This is an unprecedented prosecution,’’ Craig told The Associated Press last week. ‘‘He has broken no law and we will defend this case vigorously.’’

Whether Edwards broke the law or not, his behavior related to his mistress and their baby is unacceptable. Edwards has already broken what bond of trust he may have had with people. For breaking that trust, his political career is over.

If Edwards broke the law, an appropriate punishment, and not a slap on the wrist, is required. It’s that simple.

Sadly, the list of tarnished politicians seems to grow each day.