Top Scandals of 2009
The once-promising career of former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards took a terrible turn after news leaked of an affair he had with a staffer while his wife was battling cancer. He also reportedly fathered a child with that same staffer. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Singer Chris Brown made headlines for all the wrong reasons after he was charged and convicted of felony assault against singer and then girlfriend Rihanna. Brown was sentenced to five years probation and community service. (RICK LOOMIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Golfer Tiger Woods didn’t get attention for his play on the links as much as he did for his playing around. It was revealed the world’s top golfer was reportedly maintaining multiple extra-marital affairs following an early morning car wreck outside his Florida home. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The search was on for South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford who disappeared for several days in June. When he finally surfaced he said he was hiking in the mountains. Turns out he was in Argentina with his mistress. Sanford continues as governor however his wife filed for divorce in early December. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Director Roman Polanski is being held in Switzerland, in a luxurious villa, awaiting extradition back to the U.S. charged with having sex with a 13 year old girl. The Oscar winner has been on the run from U.S. authorities since 1977. (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
Michael David Barrett faces up to five years in prison for stalking ESPN reporter Erin Andrews. Barrett recorded video of Andrews, naked in her hotel room, and tried to sell the footage and pictures. (Scott Olson & Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Late night talk show host David Letterman took time on his show to announce he was cheating on his wife with a member of his staff. A former member of his team faces blackmail charges for allegedly promising Letterman he would keep the info a secret for a big payoff. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The death of pop star Michael Jackson stunned the world; but news the doctor who reportedly gave him the deadly dose of a power sedative now has a reality show could be even more unbelievable. (Access E/WireImage)
Richard and Mayumi Heene got a big dose of reality after they got prison time for their stunt that had a nation watching. The reality star wanna-be’s reportedly told police their young son was aboard a runaway experimental weather balloon. He wasn’t. (Chris Schneider/Getty Images)
Nevada Senator John Ensign is accused of trying to cover-up an affair he was having with a staffer. He reportedly tried to “compensate” the woman’s husband with severance pay and business contacts. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
