ABC News: John Edwards admits affair, denies paternity

ABC News is reporting that John Edwards confirmed that he indeed had an affair with videographer Rielle Hunter, but denied that he is the father of her baby -- the subject of recent allegations in the National Enquirer that have launched a broad debate over the media's responsibility in pursuing such stories.

In an interview with Bob Woodruff to air this evening, Edwards admits to having an affair with Hunter but says it began and ended while the cancer afflicting his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, was in remission. The disease has since flared anew.

ABC said that Edwards, who has not taken a paternity test, contended he could not be the father of Hunter's baby because the affair ended before the child's conception. A former aide, Andrew Young, has said that he is the father though a birth certificate apparently lists no father for the child.

It was unclear whether Edwards had been on Barack Obama's short list of vice presidential contenders, but his admission would seem to put a spike in that, not to mention any high-profile role at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 25-28 in Denver.

Added to the controversy: Edwards lied about the affair when the Enquirer first raised the issue in October. As The Ticket reported then, Edwards, then actively seeking the Democratic nomination, told reporters the story was "false" and "ridiculous."

Video of the news can be seen here.

-- Scott Martelle

Photo: Associated Press

Comments

[GEAH]

So, the LA Times is scooped and humiliated by the National Enquirer. What a sad ending this is to a once-great paper.

[HowAboutSomeRealNews]

All we get are these phony, moronic, corrupt puppets as presidential candidates. There's a good reason for why the poop floats to the top but you won't be told why by the LA Times.

[TakeFive]

So did Tony Pierce be send out a new memo? Or are you just taking a risk here?

[Michael West]

I don't believe the Edwards affair is true, you right-wingers are so gulible! This story was NOT in the LA Times. You can't trust the Enquirer, or ABC News, Drudge, John Edwards, Fox News...
Sad ending to a once great paper- well put.

[J Rogers]

Wow... the LA Times is soooo brave!! Way to print a story 3 weeks after it was released and confirmed by multiple sources. What does it tell you that I as a lay-person find out about news before the LA Times does. Since when have allegations not been fit to print on a major politician?

I'm hoping soon they'll report on Bill Clinton's affair and impeachment proceedings... or are they waiting for a confession from him as well?

[Who doesn't]

So what? Who gives a crap if Edwards had an affair? John McCain did too. He left his wife who waited for him the whole time he was a POW and shacked up with Cindy back in 1979.

[rickwla]

Wow! This happens right in front of the noses of the LA Times and you get scooped by the National Enquirer and then ABC News? The Times even instructed its bloggers to avoid this story.

This is news. And it was news even if Edwards was no longer running for president because, when he was running for president, he knew he had this affair in his closet. What gall. What would have happened if he was the nominee with this story coming out?

Memo to the Times editors: That's why this is news and its important for you to have reported on it. The Times becomes more irrelevant every day.

[Dave F.]

I'm fascinated by how quick those leaving comments are to criticize the LAT for any and every story. What happened to waiting until something is confirmed. If they had reported earlier and it proved false, the comments would have complained about the paper being irresponsible.

Fascinating sport you guys play over in these parts. I'll start up the next round:

"The LA Times is once again behind the curve with this font usage. What is this they're using? Arial??? Preposterous and facetious of them don't you think?"

[frank]

Nobody better even say that this officals are like us, cause there not and shouldnt' be like us. We need nearly perfect people to run this country. Tha't why this country is the way it is because it's being run by average curupt, gay, cheating, greedy people. That's good that the media trys so hard to show us that these people we rely on to run our country are just stupid.

[Rafe]

Oh, so he says he "didn't love her." That makes everything perfectly OK, right?

[National Enquier]

We told you so!!! Be a little braver next time and report the truth!

Signed NE

[Dave F.]

I celebrate J. Rogers keen eye as a lay person getting this scoop 3 weeks ago. I am on the lower rung of lay persons that had not heard about this until now.

I'm disappointed in the Times and the 17 or other odd news feeds / broadcasts I do try to keep up with on a daily basis for not thrusting this into my face sooner since there is nothing else in the world to report on.

[Stephen Cole]

Now we know the reason for those $400 haircuts.

[michael ball]

Clinton had affairs also,but it didn't keep him from making
our country the most together it had been in many years.
An affair,though wrong,is nothing compared to the lies
and utterly complete corruption that this administration
has heaped upon this nation.Bush has weakened this
country in so many ways,its going to take many years
to recover from the corruption,and the embarrassment
he has made america to the rest of the world.

[MacBoBo]

Oh, so he says he "didn't love her." That makes everything perfectly OK, right?

---------------------------------------------------------

It just proves that he was doing it out of "duty" as opposed to doing it out of "love".

[Gene Tomlinson]

what do you expect from a newsaper who spends all it's time criticizing Republicans and LIONIZING LIBERALS.

So what's new? Of course the LAT dude has egg on his face, that's typical media. They always think they are smarter than anybody else.

I am sure Sam Zell has watched all this and is taking notes.

Gene Tomlinson

[Tim Jemal]

“Sadly, it comes as no surprise that Senator Edwards not only had an extramarital affair but lied about it. Having an affair is not the issue which the public disdains the most. It’s hypocrisy and lack of authenticity where private actions starkly belie public pronouncements.”

[diana]

wh y the American people play with their double morality who cares if he had an affair before
give me a break

[George P. Fillywick]

Who cares? We're at war, people are dying, the economy is faltering and we're at the end of 8 years of a failed neo-conservative agenda run amuck.

The last thing I'm worried about is where politicians put their privates.

[Spanky]

I see an Maury Povich episode in the works.... "You Are The Father!!!"

[B-Daddy]

The issue isn't "who cares?" Rightly or wrongly, millions of people care. The issue isn't the Times passing on what the Enquirer reported, absent corroboration. That was prudent. The issue is the total lack of business sense and journalistic competitive spirit which led the Times to not even investigate the truth of the Enquirer's reporting in the first place. And if the Times was investigating and came up with zilch, that is even more damning.

[DP Ludwig]

Seriously - why are Americans always so hung up on the private lives of public figures?

So Edwards had an affair? Big deal.

Move along, move along - there's nothing to see here.

[Dan]

"A former aide, Andrew Young, has said that he is the father" Actually, that is almost creepier than him admitting paternity. What - were he and his campaign workers passing her around like a wine bottle in a hobo jungle?

[willie]

What's the story here? Man cheats on wife? This is news? What Inquiring minds really want to know is has Paris Hilton has pulled ahead of the old wrinkly faced white haired guy in the presidential race?

[Henry]

How could he? I'm so disappointed in him- he's such a great man. By the way, critical commenters, I don't see you working to fight poverty. So sit back and enjoy your money- you worked so hard for it, and we all know that poor people never, ever work hard. Right?