Is Rielle Hunter forcing John Edwards to claim paternity? [Updated]

Just when it seemed the John Edwards saga couldn't get any more sordid, new revelations come that the 2004 Democratic vice presidential candidate and former North Carolina senator wants to acknowledge he is the father of a child born to a mistress, but that his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, has "yet to be brought around."

According to the New York Times, Mrs. Edwards, struggling with cancer, has been resisting her husband's instinct that it's time to step up in the case involving Rielle Hunter and her toddler daughter.

Maybe past time, since his once-loyal aide Andrew Young is writing a book and someone leaked the book proposal to the New York Times, with a lot of unsavory details. Among them: The onetime darling of the populist set asked the aide to cover for the senator and claim he was the father of the baby. Oh and the senator promised to marry Hunter as soon as Elizabeth Edwards died -- in a rooftop ceremony, accompanied by the Dave Matthews Band.

If that weren't enough, a federal grand jury is looking into the unique question of whether payments that Hunter got from two Edwards supporters -- Fred Baron, a wealthy Dallas trial lawyer, now deceased, and Bunny Mellon, the 99-year-old heiress to the Mellon fortune -- constitute a crime.

[Updated 2:41 p.m.: The New York Times also reports that Ms. Hunter may soon move to the Wilmington area, where the Edwards family has a secluded island estate.]

Aside from the question of how close this man came to being one heartbeat away from the presidency comes an inquiry about why Edwards' mistress keeps using her 19-month-old daughter like an shield -- even bringing her, as seen above, before a federal grand jury investigating campaign finance laws. We wonder if she is trying to remind the former senator of his affair.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo credit: Jim R. Bounds / Associated Press

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Comments

[Brenda Rauscher]

Why are these educated adults not using some kind of protection during their trysts, not that I approve of the playing around idea. I find it ridiculous in this day and age that people are putting themselves in these kinds of situations. Edwards should have known better, he knew where babies came from and this was a younger woman not to mention the STDs. I can't help but wonder if this woman was trying all along to become pregnant for her 15 minutes of fame or whatever she thought she'd get out of it. I'm just bewildered when men like Edwards can be so smart, so knowledgeable on issues but be so weak and stupid in other areas. I can't help but wonder if that type of personality who wants to become president is also one that never gets enough of anything. I sure it's not true for all presidents but it sure has been true for some. There may be many more that we don't know about...in the "old days" where these things were hushed up.

[Anonymous]

One correction: it's Hunter who's supposedly moving to Wilmington where the Edwards family has a beach house. (I doubt Elizabeth will go anywhere near it once Hunter is within a 100 mile radius.)

I get your point about Hunter forcing Edwards to admit it's his kid but in the end, she couldn't force him to do anything he didn't want to. Of course, all his lies and attempts to hide it give her leverage since she could threaten a tell all with the lurid details.

What a tangled web Edwards wove and now he's caught in his own web!

[Heidi Morgan]

She set her sights on him, seduced him, made her move and conceived his child, who she flaunts in front of his nose and bathes in the notoreity. Men are such suckers and women can be awfully self absorbed.

[VIXEN22]

The 3 people intimately involved in this travesty; Edwards, Hunter and Young are a picture perfect example of duplicitous, amoral scum. Young continues to be with his book. Edwards ego and persistent lies are beyond comprehension. I happened upon Rielle Hunter as she appeared as a contestant on the Game Show Network's "Lingo". She didn't identify her occupation as a "producer" of documentaries. She and her female contestant partner came off as extremely flighty. One can only feel intense empathy for the innocent bystanders hurt by these shameless egotists; Elizabeth Edwards, her children and the 19 month old child born to Rielle Hunter.

[slavin]

Never trust a man who smiles all the time.

[Ali]

How disappointing that Sen. Edwards turned out to be the scumbag that he is... This country has averted two potential VP disasters in the last few years, him and Palin.

[annelouise]

I wish Elizabeth wasn't so sweet and ladylike, but she is. She's a class act. But I can't help but wish that for just once, she could get the gumption (grandparents word!) and go over to Rielle, the Horseface Hunter's place, and just ream her out. What a piece of work that woman is. To plan a wedding to a man whose wife is dying. I would beat her to a bloody pulp. But, hey, I ain't got no class....

[Paula]

Annelouise,
You've got class! Just because women were conditioned for years to say and do nothing when wronged doesn't mean we have to continue that pattern. If I were Elizabeth, I'd start by pulling a Lorena Bobbitt on my husband and then I'd take "it" to Hunter and tell her "you wanted it, it's all yours" and throw it at her.

Maybe we can't change the cheaters but we can teach children husbands (or wives) who stray are betraying an entire family. The scum who cheat with people they know are married are just as bad. Infidelity is not a victimless action and while all actions have consequences, with infidelity it's the innocents who pay the highest price.

I hope Elizabeth lives a long life - long enough to bury her husband and spit on his grave.

[emmarose]

he needs to just own up to it as the baby looks just like him. i guess elizabeth just doesn't want the mistress to "win" or something. this has to be driving her nuts. the mistress may live near john in a million dollar home on figure 8 island (exclusive) in wilmington, nc and will live the high life even though she's conned people most her life. and if john lives permanently in wilmington, they'll be a couple sort of and she'll be in the other childrens' lives (emma claire and jack) and elizabeth will be long gone (whenever bone cancer takes her). it sucks. and rielle is still holding all the cards. cause the baby is john's. he does have to pay child support. and he's maybe facing prison. poor elizabeth. not how she expected her life to turn out. and she just opened a store in chapel hill. who the hell is going to manage that when she passes? jesus. i bet the oldest daughter just stays far far away.

[Sheri]

Maybe I'm the only one but whenever I see a picture of this trash carrying her child around just to get photographed, I immediately think of Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction screaming "I won't be ignored!" I hope Elizabeth's kids don't have a pet bunny if this psycho moves to NC. (Sorry for the pun but it just dawned on my that Fred Baron and Bunny Mellon were paying her off so there's the dead and the bunny connections.)

Of course, she's already cooked Edwards' goose so maybe that will be enough to satisfy her. What a total loser!

To the rest of America: if you see this beast, run (don't walk) away as fast as you can.

[AnonyMouse]

What scumbags: both Hunter and Edwards. Elizabeth Edwards has handled the matter so far with a lot of dignity and grace. Like a previous poster, I hope she lives long enough to dance and spit on John Edwards' grave. Sounds like both John Edwards and Reille Hunter are a pair of narcissists who didn't give a fig about anything except themselves.

[Tom Kane]

UNTOLD STORY JOHN EDWARDS AND THE DEATH OF HIS SON

Thanks, all, I have been holding this back for a while. I am part of a gay group called ANGLE whom host Presidential and other higher office candidates for breakfast forums that help vett the candidates on issues confronting gay, lesbian bisexual transgender community. The group is a regular breakfast meet, without about 50 gay men and women in attendance on average.

John Edwards came to speak. He got a question from someone none of us recognized. (he doesn't realize how tight the GLBT community is) The question, 'Your son died, how does that effect you'. With a less than convincing story Edwards, said, 'I never bring that up in the campaign, the death was very tragic to me, hurts still...' OK TRAGIC; Worse we found out the questionaire was a plant! An Edwards plant. So he is disgusting all the way around, lets use his dead son, his dying wife and anyone else to throw under the bus for a shoddy chance at a run for the White House. I knew Karma would get him and boy is it ever. I hope this story emerges, I've seen that same guy on the news in Iowa asking the same question to Edwards during the campaign. Disgusted in LA.

[Andi]

All three of them (John Edwards, Rielle Hunter and Andrew Young) aren't just narcissists but psychopaths and sociopaths. They should be sent away for scientific studies which would protect everyone else, especially Elizabeth and her children, from them until the three of them rot in hell some day, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Someone else pointed out Edwards oldest daughter stays far away - good for her! I bet the older son is looking down on his father from heaven with disgust for what he has done and continues to do. It's Elizabeth's two younger children that have to see their scumbag father that I feel sorry for but at least they know exactly what a beast their father is to torture their sick mother so.

[Olden Atwoody]

Edwards is such a tool. I'm a little tired of all this posturing.

I am the father of Rielle's child. I will submit to DNA testing to prove it.

[Deborah]

My heart breaks for Elizabeth and her beautiful children.

For the life of me I couldn't figure out why Edwards keeps making such asinine decisions concerning his family. Then I read that it's probably all due to his narcissism. He can't bear knowing his wife is only with him because of her illness and there is no love or respect left. His other family is disgusted and barely tolerates him at best. His friends have deserted him. Add to that the fact the public has nothing but scorn for him and it's more than he can handle. Since he needs everyone to love him, he lashes out and causes as much pain as he can.

Maybe that's all true but instead of behaving like a petulant child he should get counseling and stop hurting the wonderful family he betrayed.

[Elizabeth]

The child now resembles Edwards. Everyone who sees this child has to suspect the truth. A paternity tests is just icing on the cake. However, moving his mistress or his mistress moving in the same state while his wife is still alive is preposterous. John Edwards, as well as Rielle Hunter, has been so disrespectful of the marriage vows. I hope they make each other miserable. It is obvious she went after him at a weak moment, but he has yet to show any strength in this unfortunate situation.

[PatRav]

I despite John Edwards, a wolf in sheep's clothing. I agree, hope Elizabeth lives much longer to see him dead, bury her and spit on his grave. That he seriously deserves.

[Tralfaz]

annelouise - You're my kind o' gal!

[Bryna Weiss]

How can the classy Elizabeth Edwards remain married to the phony betrayer with the fancy hair? She's head and shoulders above him and he humiliated her with his expressions of love for, and marital plans with, Hunter, the opportunistic adulteress. Of course, after Elizabeth dies, he promised! Could he be any more sleazy and self-absorbed! Elizabeth, say goodbye and take him for everything he's got!

[baby girl]

JOHN EDWARDS THINKS HE GOT IT MADE,BUT THERE IS STILL A GOD,AND GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY,AND JOHN IS PUTTING MORE ON LIZ THAN ANYONE CAN HARDY BARE.RIELLE NEEDS TO GET EVERY THING HE OWNS.BUT NOT THE TAX PAYERS MONEY.

[Georgia]

I'm from John Edwards' home state and liked him as a candidate and as a person because I thought he was genuinely a nice, smart person and qualified to be president. I would have voted for him if Barack had not been in the picture. I too was disappointed in his choice of action with Ms. Hunter and I'm a firm believer in what goes around...comes around. Remember he said he felt special...almost the chosen one...to be running for president and at times this got to his head. I'm angry at him for hurting his supporters, his family and friends. I'm just as angry at this former idiot aide who has decided to write a book about Edwards. What a betrayal!! Can't he at least wait, does Elizabeth have to continually be hurt. This woman is a champion of the highest caliber in my mind...strong and courageous. The former aide...needs to find himself some gainful employment. I, too, hope Elizabeth continues to live and enjoy her life in spite of all the betrayals. To me, her smile makes me forget sometimes that she is fighting for her life. Let's all continue to pray for her.

[Anne]

The character of John Edwards is just one of his diminutive attributes. I shudder to think what could have happened if he had been nominated and elected as President. He obviously lacks common sense, altruism, faithfulness, empathy, morals and many other attributes necessary to be a good leader. I feel sorry for Elizabeth - you have to know that in giving him two more children, the hormones she had to take may have contributed and/or caused the breast cancer. I feel sorry for the children including the baby. She will eventually learn of the circumstances of her birth. So will her classmates and others who will be asking "Aren't you ...?"

Reille needs to high-tail it to some place away from the media where she can give her child a chance to grow up to enough before learning the truth. Instead she is parading around this innocent child to the world and more shamefully to Edwards' devastated family. What an idiot!

[Dr, Phillips]

Perhaps the real lesson to be learned from the whole sordid matter involving John Edwards and his mistress, is that we need to look at future potential nominees for national office outside the ranks of former office holders. Politics is the fine art of compromise and negotiation but principles of ethics, commitment, responsibility, honesty, integrity, sacrifice and personal discipline are also part of the paradigm for office seekers and holders. Our nation and its voters are too often confronted by office holders, like Edwards, Sanford, and others, whose indiscretions damage the credibility of the candidate selection process. Edwards has become the poster boy for all that's wrong with our nominee selection process.

Yet, in fairness, there are many who serve the nation having come from the professional political jobholder classification who remain honorable and embrace the values cited in this article. However, in our time the visual parade of deceptive, dishonest, office holders and candidates covered in the media is not encouraging.

Jim Crawford's fine article on the Occupations of our Founders is worth your study and is taken from National Archive's materials on the initial 55 framers of the Constitution. Our founders came from a varied pool of citizens including farmers, shippers, retirees, scientists, school administrators, ministers, students of theology, lawyers and business owners, all known patriots. Although, these dedicated men did not profess or exhibit perfection, their maintenance of basic moral and ethical principles were strongly exhibited.

We need in 2010-2012, to look actively in our great nation for those men and women who are known for their committed work and are under girded with strong moral and ethical principles. At a time of massive job losses, home foreclosures, plant closings, loss of income, intrusive government, increasing taxes, widespread crime, violation of our borders, challenges from dangerous oppressive regimes around the world, energy demands, small businesses facing stress and interference, we must find serious people to address these issues. In the film The American President, Andrew Shepherd, the fictional president, holds a press conference to challenge his ludicrous opponent Bob Rumson. He basically observes that we as a democracy face serious problems and we need serious people to solve them. This is the crux of our challenge today, we need to identify, nominate and elect to office those serious servants.

In 1630 while on the deck of his tiny ship laying off the Massachusetts coast, John Winthrop told those settlers in the boat with him, WE SHALL BE A CITY UPON A HILL-THE EYES OF ALL PEOPLE ARE UPON US, SO THAT IF WE SHALL DEAL FALSELY WITH OUR GOD IN THIS WORK, WE SHALL UNDERTAKE, AND SO CAUSE HIM TO WITHDRAW HIS PRESENT HELP FROM US, WE SHALL BE MADE A STORY AND A BYWORD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

A young military man offered himself for public office in 1946. He gave an Independence Day address and eventually campaigned for the 11th Congressional District seat in his state. He was not perfect, but he was committed to his nation and fellow citizens. His speech is paraphrased as follows: OUR GOVERNMENT WAS FOUNDED ON THE ESSENTIAL RELIGIOUS ELEMENT OF INTEGRITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, AND THE IDEALISTIC ELEMENT, A FIXED REGARD FOR PRINCIPLE-THE CONVICTION THAT OUR EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE LORD-THAT RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG. REMEMBERING THE PATRIOTIC ELEMENT, LOVE OF COUNTRY AND WHEREVER FREEDOM HAS BEEN IN DANGER, AMERICANS WITH A DEEP SENSE OF PATRIOTISM HAVE BEEN WILLING TO STAND AT ARMAGEDDON AND STRIKE A BLOW FOR LIBERTY AND THE LORD...MAY GOD GRANT, AT SOME DISTANT DATE, ON THIS DAY...THE SPEAKER MAY BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THESE ARE STILL THE GREAT QUALITIES OF THE AMERICAN CHARACTER AND THEY HAVE PREVAILED. These words were spoken in 1946 by young John Kennedy.

Another great American expressed his dream when he said, AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH, Abraham Lincoln from The Gettysburg address.
The ancient scripture reminds us THAT NO GREATER LOVE HAS ANY MAN THAT HE WOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR A FRIEND.

Let us look for these servants; certainly they can be found in America.

Dr. Phillips
Bloomington, IL

[Anne]

Dr. Phillips is right on the mark and the points he brings up are ones we as citizens should ponder. I appreciate the reference to the article by Jim Crawford "Occupations of our Founders" and will try to find it. I have become somewhat cynical about the whole system of politics. Over 30 years ago my husband tried to sign up for a class called "Ethics in Government" and every time the class was cancelled due to lack of interest. I am very disappointed in John Edwards because I thought he embodied the fine attributes that were absent in so many polititoans.

[baker]

When the other woman (gee can we really call her that) moves to NC, everyone in the town should completely shun her. Maybe that would help her think and realize what a low life she really is. Only a heartless animal (yes, she is an animal that stalked and preyed on Mrs. Edwards family) could flirt with a man knowing his wife is dying. She is completely heartless and desperate, isn't she? She's so desperate for attention, like a bad child, she'll do ANYTHING to get it even if it's bad attention. So desperate she flaunts her baby. She seems like a chick saying, "Hey everybody, look at me, I'm John Edwards mistress, I'm special, I'm famous". She's so disgusting and doesn't realize it. What will she do when he cheats on her because he will eventually.

[Zachery Michael]

Like so many politicos..... None are perfect, becuase "news flash" we all are human, we all sin, and we all fall short. John Edwards made a mistake, so did Bill Clinton. Mark Sanford made a mistake, so did the Governor of New York. If Edwards had not been in the eye of media. The story would have surpassed. Edwards is not running for political office any longer. He is only involved with performing speaking engagements and continue to do philanthropy. I, by no means, approve of his fallings. Yet, Knowing who Edwards is and continues to be is why I am writing this today. Forgive and forget should be our focus. Positive change has to be brought forth in order to make a difference. I suggest we all start that.

[Zachery Michael]

To Brenda Rauscher......

If Ms. Hunter was doing this on purpose, while hasn't she written a book, give one interview, or even made a profit off of the scandal. She is a little different compared to the Gossleins, or the Governor of Illinois. When posting, it is best to remember the facts. Just as a former President once said.

"Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." - President Lincoln

[Tycho]

Show me a new mother of a toddler who doesn't carry her everywhere. A shield? Come on.

[Ophelia Brezt]

Men should take note--just because a woman is approaching or past forty, that doesn't mean she can't get pregnant.

John Edwards is a cheating pig. Turns out 'Rielle' the Eighties Party Girl wasn't his first tryst.

Elizabeth--get it all--get every last dime. And then LIVE for fifty more years, and spend every cent of it...on yourself and men who don't have an obsession for blow dryers!