LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Roughly three years after Rielle Hunter (photos below) was revealed as the John Edward mistress, the scandal is far from over. A grand jury is still investigating campaign finances by former U.S. Senate John Edwards, the father of Rielle Hunter’s baby.
Hunter has testified in the grand jury matter. The grand jury’s investigation has been going on for nearly a year in Raleigh. Edwards has denied any wrongdoing.
But the history of John Edwards in handing the Rielle Hunter scandal has not been consistent.
Over three years ago, the National Enquirer broke that Rielle Hunter scandal. But in July 2008, the scandal erupted again. The Enquirer then claimed Hunter allegedly drove to the Beverly Hilton Hotel from Santa Barbara with a friend to meet Edwards at a Los Angeles Mayor’s event on homelessness. “After we confronted him about seeing Rielle, Edwards looked like a deer caught in headlights,” said Enquirer Senior Reporter Alexander Hitchen. The Enquirer claimed Edwards hid from them once inside the Hotel. At the time, the story seemed too tabloid. Mainstream news media had skipped coverage previously and in July 2008.
But by 2009 that changed.
And then came the erroneous denials. Edwards and Hunter both called the Enquirer report false. First, Hunter said “The innuendos and lies that have appeared on the internet and in the National Enquirer concerning John Edwards are not true, completely unfounded and ridiculous. My video production company was hired by the Edwards camp on a 6 month contract, which we completed December 31, 2006. When working for the Edwards camp, my conduct as well as the conduct of my entire team was completely professional. This concocted story is just dirty politics and I want no part of it.”
Then, Edwards also issued a statement to reporters in October 2008. “The story is false. It’s completely untrue, ridiculous”.
By August of 2008, Edwards changed his story. He finally admitted to the affair.“Two years ago I made a very serious mistake which fed a self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe that you can do whatever you want.”
Edwards was still not admitted that he was Hunter’s baby daddy. That admission wouldn’t come until two years later.
In March 2009, Hunter was telling friends that Edwards was her baby daddy. While Edwards still denied fathering her child officially, The Enquirer claimed Edwards had given an admission to Elizabeth Edwards. The paper wrote at the time “John Edwards has finally confessed to his cancer-stricken wife Elizabeth what the rest of the world already knows – that he fathered a child with his mistress. Edwards made the belated admission to his wife in an effort to stop ex-lover Rielle Hunter from going public, sources told The ENQUIRER. “
Then came the finance campaign investigations. In May 2009, reports claimed Edward’s PAC paid Hunter’s video production company $100,000. “I am confident that no funds from my campaign were used improperly,” Edwards said in the statement. “However, I know that it is the role of government to ensure that this is true. We have made available to the United States both the people and the information necessary to help them get the issue resolved efficiently and in a timely matter.”
But another report claimed at the time “Edwards’ presidential campaign paid the PAC $14,034.61 for what is listed as a “furniture purchase.”
Finally, in January 2010, Edwards admitted to being Hunter’s baby daddy. “I will do everything in my power to provide her with the love and support she deserves. It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me. To all those I have disappointed and hurt, these words will never be enough, but I am truly sorry. I am Quinn’s father. I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace. I have been providing financial support for Quinn and have reached an agreement with her mother to continue providing support in the future.”