Is John Edwards Rielle Hunter's baby daddy? We may never know

Is John Edwards the father of Rielle Hunter's baby?

We may never know.

Saturday, Hunter's lawyer, Robert Gordon, issued a statement saying, “Rielle will not participate in DNA testing or any other invasion of her or her daughter's privacy now or in the future."

So I guess Edwards is pretty much off the hook on that offer to take a paternity test. Is that why he so freely offered to take one?

But Edwards better not make her angry... oh, maybe by not giving her what she wants, forgetting her birthday, not paying enough attention to her, or by not marrying her in a few years...

She could so change her mind. Talk about leverage.

Edward finally 'fessed up to a 2006 affair with the new age spiritualist who believed she could help Edwards change the world. But he insisted that he was not the father of Hunter's 5-month-old daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter.

He also said that he did not pay her or the former Edwards campaign staffer who has publicly said he is the father. The birth certificate lists no name under "father."

In his statement (and in his TV interview with ABC), Edwards said, “I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established.”

"Truly hopeful." Yeah, right. Do we believe him?

What do you think? Is Edwards the father?

To read more about this from Andrew Malcolm, who first wrote about Edwards' affair in October 2007, go to Top of the Ticket.

Photos: Top, John Edwards. Below, John Edwards with his son, Jack, at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. Credit: WireImage

Comments

[Jane Doe]

YES.

[Ohio]

If John Edwards would like the public to believe he is not the father of Hunter's baby, why doesn't HE request the paternity test?

[sinickal]

I don't agree that we'll never know.

As resourceful as the Natuional Inquirer is, Rielle better make sure never to put the baby's soiled diapers out in the trash, or have her sip from a cup at McDonald's, etc. etc. etc.

Great sources of DNA, and the Enquirer never forgets!

[jane]

NO doubt he IS the father. That's why the elaborate coverup to make us think the affair ended in 2006

[Ray]

Why is John Edwards still news?

The paternity test will be ordered by a judge when Rielle Hunter files for child support. That's how its done.

It's a tale about Obama and Elizabeth, the brains of the operation. John Edwards' sex fling is news because Obama knew it to be true and still wanted him on the VP list, up to just a few days ago. This is how government figures get blackmailed...of course, Edwards is already paying about $15000 in blackmail (via an associate) to keep Rielle from telling the truth to the world...you see, John is not the story, it's about Elizabeth...Elizabeth Edwards was supposed to speak at the DNC in Denver...money was paid to suppress the scandal until after the convention...but, obviously, the National Enquirer paid better. Also, if Elizabeth knew in 2006, then why would Elizabeth subject the Democratic Party to such a risk by letting her fornicating husband run for the nomination...simple, Elizabeth did it to draw votes away from Hillary...how Elizabeth stole Hillary's nomination is the real story.

[NH Yankee]

If he was not the father, there would be no reason for him even to have admitted the affair.

[Maria Gonzalez-Sanchez]

Now why would John Edwards visit his ex-mistress AND her baby in a hotel at 3 in the morning if that was not his baby? If it was not his baby the woman would've had someone take care of the baby when she and Edwards were meeting at 3 in the morning. Why would there be any reason to take the baby with you to meet your 'affair' unless it was his? That's his baby. Edwards should've not wasted everyones time in the primaries by entering in the presidential race if he had "baby-mama-drama".

[The all-knowing One]

It's so obvious he's the dad. That's why he had his people pay her off, and Andrew Young as well. Here's what happened: his wife found out in 2006 & he told her he'd ended it. But he didn't end it. He can't acknowledge the baby now b/c he's been carrying on with Rielle for the past 2 years w/o telling Libby. He's trying to save his marriage, and his millions. What a complete loser idiot. Anyone who gave this guy money must be ripped.

[Kelly]

Of course he's the father and the proof is weeks or months, not years, away.

Did he really think everyone is an idiot and he could get away with it? What hubris.

[nunya]

yea, edwards is to blame for how he betrayed his wife, family and party, but what about that skank rielle hunter? i mean, she's hideous and slept with two different married men (if you believe that edwards slept with her and andrew young is the father of her child). what is it with politians having affairs with disgusting looking women if they have affairs at all? physically there's nothing appealing about hunter. she's just like lewinsky, etc. ick. what a desperate, pathetic woman. if i were her child, i'd be sickened by her.

[Emme]

Why not just admit it and get going.Also I guess in a way Edward's was pro-life.This pregnancy really screwed things up for him politically.At least they didn't sacrifice their little daughter.

[Liz]

What is it with politicians and extramarital affairs? It really does seem to occur with alarming frequency.

[shannon]

i just have to add that the name frances quinn interests me - the name quinn means fifth (or fifth born). Including John's son who was killed, frances would indeed be his fifth born...no?

[elaine]

It amazes me when a liar/cheater assumes everyone around him is gullible. This sleaze guy lies to his wife, children, friends, associates, supporters, country. Then.. whoops.. he has to admit his "mistake". If the Enquirer never started following him, he never would have told anyone. Now he says its not good enough to be 99 percent truthful? What math does HE use? And, I don't think most of us believe his wife knew all about this in 2006. I think she found out when we all did or figured it out on her own. She is just covering for him again. He is STILL thinking he is smarter than everyone else by saying he "welcomes" a paternity test. Ummmmmm, which one of us doesn't believe he has already made a deal with his mistress to say she refuses a paternity test? Yes, John.. keep assuming you are smarter than everyone... just keep that up. And, you better keep Ms Hunter happy and wealthy.... or your wife will have to again protect you and say you told her in Feb 08 about your new daughter. What an ego .. what a loser.

[Carol]

Who cares? At least this "scandal" involved two heterosexuals of consenting age.This is between him and his wife.

[Lee]

I don't care who's baby
it is, it's none of your
business. Edwards wouldn't be the first
man to have sex with
some ho, and the ho gets pregnant, in her
case on purpose, now
she just wants to keep blackmailing him to receive sums larger than she should. She's a hanger on, and he
made the mistake of trusting this bitch. Move
on he is not the nominee, the media made sure of that, even if the ho, had never
sold her story to the
Enquirer.

[Maria Gonzalez-Sanchez]

The really sad part is the Elizabeth's cancer is uncurable. So Reille was just waiting, and waiting, and after Elizabeth dies she would make her move. NOW, what is it gonna look IF Elizabeth dies and suddenly John Edwards starts "dating" and marrying Reille Hunter. Everyone now knows the truth and it would be very hard for Edwards to hide seeing Reille Hunter. He would look like the biggest scumbag around if he married Reille. So if something does happen to Elizabeth, Edwards would have to continue hiding and meeting his mistress, Rielle, behind close doors and in secret for life.

[TruthWillTell]

If he's so eager to take the paternity test, why'd he refuse for months when the Enquirer asked him to take it? That would have stopped the rumors immediately if he wasn't the dad. And he said he was at the hotel to keep Rielle quiet, so why is he now so eager to take that test? And why did he see her and the baby at the same hotel last month? And the news is out that the guy who says he's the father has a long police rap sheet. Of course, he's the Dad and he paid her off. Very hard to believe he told Elizabeth about the affair in '06 and Rielle kept working with him till mid-'07. This story is so salacious and has too many unanswered questions. Some media will pay her or her sister more to get the truth. Or buy her book rights. She won't want the attention to end. Next, she'll be hosting Saturday Night Live and have her own reality show, The Real Rielle.

[David B.]

What about the possible legal ramifications to the Edwards scandal? Why aren't more people discussing the OBVIOUS implications?

Just the easy ones:

1. Did Mr. Baron report and pay gift tax as required by federal law for amounts in excess of $24K annually? At $15K per month,
he would have reached that amount in two months.

2. Did Ms. Hunter and Mr. Young report and pay taxes on the "gifts?"

3. Did any of the money come out of the $390K paid to Mr. Baron by the various tax-exempt Edwards foundations?

Important story? Hello? Remember they got Al Capone on tax evasion, not murder!

[wordgirl]

There once was an Edwards named John,
who we learned had us all conned.
now his life is unraveling
for some off road traveling
but not one hair is out of place, come on!

[emma]

very interesting posts! he can NEVER marry rielle now because i mean come on! they'd both be physically attacked. but rielle i think stupidly started talking to friends about her affair which is how it got out in the first place. cause she's dumb. and rielle figured when elizabeth died, she could marry john. umm..dumb. no. and of COURSE it's his baby. OF COURSE. and that pic of him with the baby is HIM. it is NOT photoshopped. and they were still having sex up until a month ago. STILL screwing behind elizabeth's back. unbelievable! that's why there were two hotel rooms. the public is smart, thank you very much. he has no attorney career left. no political career (he might have been attorney general! can you imagine?). and apparently the money given to his poverty campaign and the school scholarships he's using to pay off andrew (who NEVER had an affair with rielle), the texas lawyer who is funneling the hush money through his own account so there's no paper trail to johnny boy, and of course rielle. andrew gets about $20,000/month to be the "father", rielle gets $15,000/month to support her bastard child and her skank-ho self, and the texas man maybe is being the intermediary out of altruism? who knows. yes johnny is the baby daddy, and he will be paying through the nose until that bastard is 22 and possibly have to pay for her wedding, graduate school...? that's a lot of dough. he better find some kind of employment. he really shot himself in the foot. i honestly do not believe that obama or elizabeth knew anything about this or fully until the national enquirer cracked the story. i'm serious too. what an idiot. the new age crack whore and the horny senator deserve each other.

[Robert Lewis]

Andrew Young of the John Edwards story: The arrests for worthless checks, DWI, burglary, criminal mischief, the federal tax lien

webofdeception.com

[Goblue!]

“Rielle will not participate in DNA testing or any other invasion of her or her daughter's privacy now or in the future."

TRANSLATION: Yes, John Edwards is the father but we don't want to publicly confirm that and prove that he's the ultimate scumbag.

[cw]

It's awful that John Edwards had this affair. I think Hunter is getting what she deserves. What did she really think would happen when she chose to have an affair with a married man. She's just as bad. Women need to learn to respect each other. Both women lose in this situation. And then there's an innocent baby who is obviously not being fairly treated by any of the "parents" in this situation. Who is putting her first? None of them. Hunter is putting money before the well-being of her little girl. Why would she even want her daughter to have a father who didn't want her? If you love your child, you put them first, and don't make them pay for your mistakes. Same thing for Edwards. If there's even a chance that he's the father, he needs to step up and face his wife and family. What will they think of him if they find out that he denied his own child and continued to lie to his family? They are all too worried about what's best for themselves. Someone needs to step up and be a father and mother to this child instead of playing the tabloid game. I think it's just sad that image or money is more important than raising a healthy, loved little girl. These adults need to grow up and get over themselves.

[kay]

I definitely think he's the baby daddy. And what is this with shipping mistresses out to California. That's where Jesse Jackson's mistress is too.