John Edwards is a former United States Senator from North Carolina and a Democratic Party vice-presidential and presidential candidate. In August 2008, Edwards admitted to an extramarital affair, which was initially reported in December 2007 by the National Enquirer[1] but was given little attention outside the tabloid press and political blogosphere.[2][3][4] The Enquirer cited claims from an anonymous source that Edwards had engaged in an affair with Rielle Hunter, a filmmaker hired to work for his 2008 presidential campaign, and that Hunter had given birth to a child from the relationship. ABC News reported that Andrew Young, a member of Edwards' campaign team, stated that Edwards asked him to, "Get a doctor to fake the DNA results ... and to steal a diaper from the baby so he could secretly do a DNA test to find out if this [was] indeed his child."[5] The allegations were initially denied by both Edwards and Hunter. Young claimed paternity of Hunter's daughter, although no father is listed on the child's birth certificate, and Young has subsequently denied it.
In July 2008, several U.S. mainstream news outlets cited the allegations in relation to Edwards' future political career, as well as in relation to his chances of being selected as a running mate in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential bid. Then, on August 7, 2008, Edwards admitted to ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff that he did have an extended affair with Hunter, but denied that he was the father of Hunter's baby girl.[6] Hunter's sister claimed that Edwards was the father and publicly asked Edwards to take a paternity test to determine whether the child was his.[7] On January 21, 2010, Edwards issued a statement admitting that he was the father of Hunter's child.[8]
After Edwards's admission, his wife Elizabeth announced a separation from her husband, with an intention to file for divorce.[9][10] When Edwards first admitted to the affair, he stated that Elizabeth was in remission from breast cancer. However, it became clear that Edwards continued the affair even after he and his wife made a joint announcement that her cancer had returned and was found to be terminal. Elizabeth died of the disease at age 61 on December 7, 2010.
- ^ Heilemann, John; Halperin, Mark (2010). "Chapter Nine: The Fun Part". Game change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the race of a lifetime. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-173363-5.
- ^ Greg Pollowitz (July 24, 2008). "Where's HuffPo on Edwards?". NRO Weekend. National Review Online. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- ^ Mickey Kaus (April 28, 2008). "Elizabeth Edwards' Chutzpah Plus--Obama, from Cling to Ping!". Slate. The Slate Group, a Division of the Washington Post Company. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- ^ Clark Hoyt (August 9, 2008). "Sometimes, There's News in the Gutter". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- ^ "John Edwards Admits He Fathered Rielle Hunter's Child During Affair". Abcnews.go.com. January 21, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
- ^ Schwarz, Rhonda; Woodruff, Brian (August 8, 2008). "Edwards Admits Sexual Affair; Lied as Presidential Candidate". ABC News.
- ^ Schwartz, Rhonda; Brian Ross (August 9, 2008). "Mistress' Family Challenges Edwards to Take DNA Test". ABC News.
- ^ "Edwards admits fathering child with mistress". Today.msnbc.msn.com. January 21, 2010. Archived from the original on January 23, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
- ^ "John Edwards and wife separate". Reuters. Reuters. January 27, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- ^ Ann Oldenburg (January 27, 2010). "Elizabeth Edwards tells her sister: 'I've had it.'". USA Today. USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
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