Young was the government's star witness at Edwards' campaign corruption trial, spending more than a week on the witness stand. Edwards was acquitted on one count and the jury deadlocked on five others.

An aide once so loyal he falsely claimed paternity of Edwards' baby with Hunter and helped hide her from the media for nearly a year, Young turned against his former boss and testified for the prosecution under an immunity agreement.

The U.S. Justice Department has not yet decided whether to retry Edwards on the unresolved counts, but any such effort would likely be hamstrung if Young is charged with felony contempt charges.

The civil case between Hunter and the Youngs was settled earlier this year with a state court order that required copies of the sex tape to be destroyed, though federal prosecutors may still have a copy. But a hearing on the contempt of court issue was delayed until after Edwards' federal trial.