Aug. 12, 2008
Is Edwards Lying About Timeline Of Affair?
Friend Of Rielle Hunter Tells CBS News Liaisons Began Earlier Than John Edwards Admitted
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Play CBS Video Video Edwards' Account Challenged Pigeon O'Brien, a friend to Rielle Hunter, tells Maggie Rodriguez John Edwards is still lying about the affair.
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Pigeon O'Brien is a friend of former John Edwards mistress Rielle Hunter. (CBS)
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Timeline The Edwards Affair Events leading to former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards' admission of an extramarital affair.
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Photo Essay John Edwards In his second presidential campaign, Edwards ran as a populist, with a focus on poverty and health.
O'Brien: She may have. I don't recall a conversation where that came up with us, specifically. There were difficulties and she was very conflicted as the affair went on about aspects of it. We didn't really drill too deeply into those. I supported her.
Rodriguez: Mm-hmm.
O'Brien: And...
Rodriguez: But you say that you guys lost touch when the affair got hot and heavy. Why?
O'Brien: Yes. Well, she was very involved then and I think beginning to work for his campaign. We lost touch in about May or June of '06, right before she began work on the Webisodes. I think she was gearing up to really engage in the big piece of work that she was doing for him, so her head was in a different space from the things we had been doing together. And I think she was transitioning her friendship and focusing more on him as a central person in her life, and maybe putting some of her other relationships on the sideline.
Rodriguez: She's been portrayed as this fatal attraction-like woman who was semi-stalking him, madly in love, delusional, talking bad about his wife. The woman that you claim to know for 20 years, does that ring true?
O'Brien: Not at all. It couldn't be further from the truth. And that's one reason why I'm speaking to people like you. It really bothers me what they're saying about her. It could not be further from the truth. She's a person of tremendous integrity, more so than anyone else I've ever known, insistent upon honesty and very open. It does not ring true that she would ever stalk somebody. They were very mutually engaged in this affair. I can't stress that enough. It was a mutual, committed relationship, and he persuaded her to believe so. In retrospect, I'm not sure how sincere he was about that. I don't feel that he's completely sincere about things, knowing what I know, just in terms of what he says. But, no, she never would have stalk...
Rodriguez: Have you reached out to her since this started?
O'Brien: Yes, I have. I have, I have.
Rodriguez: And?
O'Brien: I don't think my contact is particularly welcome at this point. She's in a very difficult place and I feel that she knows friends like me are out there thinking about her. I hope she understands that we all care for her so incredibly much and really want the best for her.
Rodriguez: Do you think that John Edwards is the father of her daughter?
O'Brien: I do.
Rodriguez: Why?
O'Brien: I don't see any other explanation. She would not have a child with someone that she didn't love, and she loves him.
Rodriguez: She's still in love with him. Does she think this is going to work out?
O'Brien: I believe she hopes it will. I believe she hopes it will.
Rodriguez: Do you think she will continue to pursue it?
O'Brien: I'm not sure that she has pursued it. I think it's been
mutual. I can't stress that enough. I think she will continue to have love for this person and feel that she is in a relationship with him as he has led her to believe.
Rodriguez: Despite the fact that he has a wife? Has she even mentioned Elizabeth Edwards?
O'Brien: Yes. Mm-hmm.
Rodriguez: What are her feelings when she thinks of Elizabeth Edwards?
O'Brien: Well, she knows how committed--it's hard to miss how committed the Edwardses are to one another and how central the role Elizabeth plays in Mr. Edwards' life, so she's aware of him as a married man and as a partner in this very profound relationship. And she talked sometimes about those things. She's very aware of it. There are other circumstances--their affair, their connection, their love--that seemed to make it OK and comfortable for her to pursue the relationship with him. From the outside it doesn't look like we would make those same choices; she was comfortable making those choices and confident in those choices.
Rodriguez: All right, Pigeon O'Brien, thank you.
O'Brien: Thank you.
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More From The Early Show
Add a Comment See all 179 Comments
- Evan Bayh is also a liar. I find it incredible that he is considered for VP when he has lied on blacks to keep them jailed.
As Governor of Indiana, Bayh perpetuated constitutional and civil rights violations in the following cases then crushed all attempts to publicize them. ( Including local TV stations 6,8,13 & 59, as well as the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Recorder ) State of Indiana v. Edwin L. Jones, # 49G069001CF007921, Edwin L. Jones v. Indianapolis Police Department et al, U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, # Misc 90-134, Edwin L. Jones v. Indianapolis Police Department, et al, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, # 91-1594, . Edwin L. Jones v. Indianapolis Police Department, U.S. Supreme Court, # 91-7923. Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission Complaint against Attorney Ali Talib filed 9-18-92.
. - Reply to this comment
- John Edwards is supremely sure that his wife Elizabeth will never leave him in anger over this humiliatingly public affair and the pernicious lies he continues to tell her. But how can he be so sure?
I guess he figures, "Hey, she''''s dying! Where''''s she gonna go, Detroit?"
Also, the "timeline" of the affair is critical, because it proves he is STILL LYING TO HIS OWN WIFE - let alone the rest of America. He wants us (and his wife) to believe the affair started and ended in 2006. That is obviously a lie - the affair has continued for 2 years. He also wants us to believe he TOLD HIS WIFE about it in 2006 - that is also a lie. Remember all the public photos of them out on the campaign trail? Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, a cancer-stricken wife who would travel around smiling and campaigning for her husband while knowing that he cheated on her?!!!! NO. He is LYING!
Remember when John Edwards lied and claimed his 9 year old son said, "Daddy, I don''''t want to buy those shoes at Wal-Mart, because Wal-Mart doesn''''t offer their employees affordable health care."?
Ahhhh. Those were the good old days...... - Reply to this comment
I think the person that has really brought light to this *** scandal was Pigeon O''Brien, a friend to Rielle Hunter which stated that John Edwards is still lying about the affair.
http://www.webcastr.com/videos/news/Edwards-Account-Challanged-Webcastr.html
I also found the missing John Edward videos that were Produced by Rielle Hunter
Edwards Webisode 1: Plane Truths
http://www.webcastr.com/videos/politics/edwards-webisode-1-plane-truths.html- Reply to this comment
I think the person that has really brought light to this *** scandal was Pigeon O''Brien, a friend to Rielle Hunter which stated that John Edwards is still lying about the affair.
http://www.webcastr.com/videos/news/Edwards-Account-Challanged-Webcastr.html
I also found the missing John Edward videos that were Produced by Rielle Hunter
Edwards Webisode 1: Plane Truths
http://www.webcastr.com/videos/politics/edwards-webisode-1-plane-truths.html- Reply to this comment
- Rodriguez: But someone who has an affair with a married man you say has integrity and honesty?
O''Brien: I think she thought that he had quite a bit of integrity and I think that that appealed to her about him. Sometimes we make mistakes, sometimes we pick people to fall in love with that maybe aren''t the greatest choice at the time. I can''t judge her in that, I can''t fault her in that. She fell in love and she felt loved back by this man. So unfortunately, that doesn''t reflect the kind of integrity that everybody might think reflects integrity, but I''m sure she was able to deal with it and really be persuaded by her feelings of love for this man.
Rodriguez: So for her this was about love...
O''Brien: Yes, very much so.
This whole interview deserved to be aired why? - Reply to this comment
- Republicans as well...or are they all too moral to mess around??
Posted by adillon70 at 09:13 AM : Aug 13, 2008
Republicans are classier.
They just text msg to male interns and toe tap in airport men''s rooms. - Reply to this comment
- Oh for Heaven''s sake. If this woman had such "high integrity," what was she doing messing with a married man? Did his "integrity" attract her or was it that he was a highly profile political figure? Of course her friend is going to defend her. I am not a particular fan of John Edwards, but he certainly isn''t the first public figure to be caught in adultry, and if his wife forgives him, who are we to judge? He joins a long list which includes Bill Clinton, Spitzer and no doubt a bevy of Republicans as well...or are they all too moral to mess around??
- Reply to this comment
- I have to agree with an earlier post...John Edward''''s , stepping out on his wife, is none of our business. Added to that, who cares??!!
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Posted by tireslinger
YET HAD HE BEEN A REPUBLICAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE A BIG DEAL. - Reply to this comment
- I have to agree with an earlier post...John Edward''s , stepping out on his wife, is none of our business. Added to that, who cares??!!
- Reply to this comment
- Why does CBS News believe a story about infidelity by a political also-ran is more deserving of our attention than international conflict, the wars in the Middle East or Olympic events other than swimming and gymnastics? Let''s give more air time to ding-bats seeking self celebrity; surely there are people out there who know Edwards'' housekeeper who can express even more outrage at Edwards'' pecadilloes, and maybe he or she will have a more quirky name than "Pigeon".
- Reply to this comment
- These democrats have their brains in their crotches.
Why lie about a mistress or some fat intern?
The neocons know how to lie for a more worthy cause.
Ask ******** and Bush. Them and their fatcat war profiteer cronies have made billions from 935 lies. - Reply to this comment
- It looks like the Republicans are up to their old tricks again, I wish that CBS news would report on Valerie Plame more often, or how about Or, how about the lies that were told to start a war for oil? Where are those reports? Why are we even reading anything about an affair with Edwards? That tabloid gossip should not even be considered as news.
- Reply to this comment
- Unless he gave away campaign contributions to this "woman", it''s really none of our business.
Plain and simple! Not that I condone his behavior, I don''t. But, he who is without sin, cast the 1st stone. Now put them back into your pockets. - Reply to this comment
- Obama has 90 + documented Lies, Edwards has 1 Lie. Its Ironic that Obama is the Nominee, isnt it.
Rev Wright Embraces Hamas.
Hamas Donated 30k to Obama Campaign, what we know of.
Our Americans going to let such radical in office in a 911 world.
Obama is a Closet Hamas Sympathizer with Marxist Ideas.
Research People Before you Pull the Lever.
Obama will bring Change, that is for Sure. - Reply to this comment
- He lies.
- Reply to this comment
- Remember when John Edwards lied and claimed his 9 year old son said, "Daddy, I don''t want to buy those shoes at Wal-Mart, because Wal-Mart doesn''t offer their employees affordable health care."?
Ahhhh. Those were the good old days...... - Reply to this comment
- Also, the "timeline" of the affair is critical, because it proves he is STILL LYING TO HIS OWN WIFE - let alone the rest of America. He wants us (and his wife) to believe the affair started and ended in 2006. That is obviously a lie - the affair has continued for 2 years. He also wants us to believe he TOLD HIS WIFE about it in 2006 - that is also a lie. Remember all the public photos of them out on the campaign trail? Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, a cancer-stricken wife who would travel around smiling and campaigning for her husband while knowing that he cheated on her?!!!! NO. He is LYING!
Edwards is the phoniest politician I have seen in decades. What confuses me is how he could trick so many other people into believing his act. - Reply to this comment
- John Edwards is supremely sure that his wife Elizabeth will never leave him in anger over this humiliatingly public affair and the pernicious lies he continues to tell her. But how can he be so sure?
I guess he figures, "Hey, she''s dying! Where''s she gonna go, Detroit?" - Reply to this comment
- It''s bad enough he lied about the affair, but did he have to lie about the timeline too? I''m shocked, SHOCKED!
- Reply to this comment
- ...WHO CARES? WHEN ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO START DOING SOMETHING BESIDE DIGGING AROUND BEDROOMS FOR STORIES?
Is destroying peoples lives with these kind of stories going to improve your life in any way?
I DON''T THINK SO. - Reply to this comment
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