January 25, 2010 4:15 PM

John Edwards Sex Tape? The Headline You Knew Was Coming

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Crimesider Staff
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(AP Photo/The National Enquirer)
(Getty Images/Sara D. Davis)
(AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
RALEIGH (CBS/AP) As if John Edwards was not dealing with enough problems already, new reports have surfaced that the former Democratic presidential candidate has starred in his very own tape that contains "several sex acts," reports media blog Gawker.com.

Photo: John Edwards and videographer Rielle Hunter in a Dec. 27, 2006 photo from the National Enquirer.

The list of Edwards' troubles has been piling up. Last week, Edwards admitted that he fathered a child with Rielle Hunter, a videographer he hired before his second White House bid. In a new book, a former aide claims that Edwards asked him to fake a paternity test and steal one of the baby's diapers to perform a DNA test on its poop.

Photo: John Edwards and wife Elizabeth Edwards in 2007.

Edwards is also facing questions about whether he improperly used campaign funds in paying more than $100,000 to Hunter's production company.

The alleged sex tape which is said to feature Edwards and Hunter, "is explicit and reveals that Edwards 'is physically very striking, in a certain area,'" the site reported.

Edwards' aide, Andrew Young, reportedly found the footage on an unmarked tape.

Young mentioned the existence of the tape in his book proposal last year, theNew York Daily News reported.

Photo: Rielle Hunter and daughter Aug. 6, 2009.

He is scheduled to release the book on Feb. 2.

Young initially claimed paternity of Edwards' child with Hunter.

Frances was born Feb. 27, 2008, indicating that the child was conceived in the spring of 2007, several months after Hunter stopped working for Edwards. John and Elizabeth Edwards renewed their wedding vows in July of 2007 to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.

Elizabeth Edwards, whose cancer returned in an incurable form in March 2007, has stood by her husband despite the affair. She has said that it does not matter to her whether her husband fathered a child with Hunter, saying, "that would be a part of John's life, but not a part of mine."

Since admitting the affair in August 2008, John Edwards has largely gone into seclusion. He has acknowledged a federal investigation into his campaign finances while both Young and Hunter — with her child — have made appearances at a federal courthouse in Raleigh.

In the statement Edwards released Thursday, he said, "I will do everything in my power to provide her (Frances) with the love and support she deserves. 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."

Edwards also said, "It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me."

Harrison Hickman, Edwards' longtime political adviser, called the situation "a lot more complicated than people think."

"There are a lot of adults involved," Hickman said in an interview broadcast on NBC's "Today" show. "I think they wanted to handle this in the right way."

"Elizabeth thinks that he should acknowledge this," Hickman said. He said it "has been a very difficult time for everyone...but especially for Elizabeth."

Edwards, a U.S. senator representing North Carolina from 1998 until his vice presidential bid in 2004, acknowledged in May that federal investigators were looking into how he used campaign funds.

Grand jury proceedings are secret, and the U.S. attorney's office in Raleigh has declined to confirm or deny an investigation.


Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
by Ireadyourbook January 30, 2010 7:38 AM EST
SAY NO TO ANDREW YOUNG'S BOOK.
http://ireadyourbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/politician-by-andrew-young-do-not.html
Reply to this comment
by Ireadyourbook January 30, 2010 7:37 AM EST
http://ireadyourbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/politician-by-andrew-young-do-not.html
Reply to this comment
by blondenblueeyed January 27, 2010 8:35 PM EST
Harrison Hickman, Edwards' longtime political adviser, called the situation "a lot more complicated than people think."

SO.....Why is this adulterous affair so complicated? Edwards has no moral integrity and then denied his own offspring. Bill Clinton basically did the same thing and almost got away with it too if not for the dribble on the infamous 'blue dress!' If ONLY there wasn't that pesky DNA thing.

THANK GOD this man didn't become our VP. Al Gore would have been a disaster all by himself. Add Edwards to the mix....I can't even think how horrible it would have been.
Reply to this comment
by comfortfoods February 4, 2010 4:25 PM EST
Al Gore would have been a great President, and still would be, and had he have known about Edwards' affair, he would have kicked his ass, and sent him packing. W sat in the chair for eight years and did nothing. Look at what a mess this country is in now. We wouldn't be in this mess if more people had voted for Gore.
by ifitlooksloikeaduck January 27, 2010 6:09 PM EST
Out of the mansion and into the sewer you rat. Disgusting that he had the gaul to be running for President. Bunch of lying crooks running country.
Reply to this comment
by mcdanel_1771 January 26, 2010 9:04 AM EST
I've heard he's quite the egomaniac, which never seemed to square with his public presentation, but I can believe it now! All this was going on during the primaries! It's almost delusional to think you should pursue the presidency dragging all those skeletons. They aren't even skeletons, they're live and kicking! That takes some real balls, which I understand are attested to in the video.

Is anyone reminded of candidate Gary Hart? For those who are younger, he told the media "Follow me around, my life is an open book". Within days, a photographer had photos of Gary with his mistress, on a boat named the "Monkey Business".

In my state, Nevada, Republicans Gibbons, Heller, and Ensign are all juggling sex scandals. Don't bother making this thread into blue versus red, it isn't the party, it's the power.
Reply to this comment
by ss433 January 26, 2010 4:48 AM EST
The spirit is strong, but the flesh is sometimes weak!
Reply to this comment
by CBSisCommunist5 January 25, 2010 9:45 PM EST
Blame Bush and Cheney...

Dems are good at that. Especially Edwards.
Reply to this comment
by Imadinnerjacket January 25, 2010 9:32 PM EST
It's too bad, I always thought John Edwards was have been a good President...
Reply to this comment
by sandy19731 January 25, 2010 6:30 PM EST
Dumb and dumber.
Reply to this comment
by citizenusa-2009 January 25, 2010 5:12 PM EST
OMG!! Elizabeth didn't marry a monster, she married a MORON!! Lisa Druck (aka "Reille" Hunter) was probably laughing her a.s.s. off when he let her make that sex tape. Talk about life time security!! If she doesn't get preggo, she has the video as insurance. Brilliant!!
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See all 11 Comments
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