Report: $$ Still Flows To Edwards' Ex

He's Denied Knowing Of Payments To Former Mistress; Questions Raised About Their Source, And Legality

(CBS)  Former presidential candidate John Edwards knew his ex-mistress, Rielle Hunter, was receiving payments from his former campaign finance chairman, according to the National Enquirer, the publication that broke the story of Edwards' affair.

What's more, says the Enquirer, it has "uncovered that Edwards' political operatives are still paying" Hunter.

After months of denials, Edwards admitted to the affair, but vehemently denied fathering a baby with Hunter, or knowing she was being paid.

On the ABC News broadcast "Nightline" Friday, Edwards said, "I've never paid a dime of money to any of the people that are involved. I've never asked anybody to pay a dime of money, never been told that any money's been paid."

If the story is true, asked CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano, the question remains, where did the money paid by the former Edwards campaign finance committee chairman, Fred Baron, come from?

"So far," Enquirer reporter Rick Egusquiza told CBS News, "we don't know that they were illegal. If they were contributions from the campaign, then obviously, there's some issues there with legality. But at this point, we're still trying to investigate that."

CBS News legal analyst Mickey Sherman told Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez Wednesday Edwards might be in legal jeopardy if it could be shown the funds were used for purposes other than the ones they were meant for.

"If you raise money to run for (office)," Sherman explained, "and if you take that money that people have contributed to you based upon the fact that they think their money is going to a presidential candidate, and you give it to a girlfriend of a God-knows-what ... that's a crime. But the question is, how do you prove that? And, she was somehow working for the campaign (as its videographer), so was the money she got so inappropriately more than what she deserved -- that's going to be the issue the feds are going to have to look at. ... It would be a federal offense."

The allegations could not only have legal ramifications, Solorzano observes, they would shed considerable doubt on Edward's denial that he fathered Hunter's child.

On Tuesday, Hunter's friend, Pigeon O'Brien told The Early Show she doesn't think Edwards has fully come clean, saying, "because Mr. Edwards told an untruth on national television, and I think it's unfortunate for the voters and for his family, for Rielle and her baby, and I think somebody needs to advocate for her."

The Enquirer is also reporting that Hunter "was whisked away on a private jet two days before" Edwards' appearance on Nightline.

In addition, the Enquirer says it "has also confirmed that Edwards secretly visited Rielle and their love child three separate times at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles this year. ... Enquirer reporters caught Edwards, 55, making a late-night visit to 44-year-old Rielle and their daughter at the hotel on July 21."

The Enquirer also says, "After Edwards confessed the affair to his wife, he restarted it, and was sexually involved with Rielle when she became pregnant."\

[ramos937]

If the story is true, asked CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano, the question remains, where did the money paid by the former Edwards campaign finance committee chairman, Fred Baron, come from?
----------------------------------------

John Edwards is in a very deep hole and continues to dig himself into a deeper one. My advice would be that he engage the best possible attorney he can and come completely clean with him/her. After that, if the attorney will allow him, he should give a complete interview to someone like Larry King or Wolf Blitzer and answer every question he can as fully and as completely as possible. He cannot lie by misstating facts or lying by omission. He will still be fair game for the tabloids but not as much by the legitimate media. No matter what he does, his political career is gone.

[wellhell3]

Of course his campaign goons were paying her off with campaign money...they had all invested heavily in the man''s candidacy.

[mbcsmith]

All you edwards donors must be feeling pretty ripped off by this scumbag, low life, cheating, lying lawyer.

[balto_babs]

Obviously Edwards didn''t take the time to look into her past because she was a wild NYC party girl in the 80''s. Her named used to be Lisa Druck and she was the model for a novel written by her boyfriend Jay McInerney exposing her way over-the-top lifestyle.

Edwards will now get exactly what he said wanted he wanted in one of the videos she made for his campaign "The world will NOW get to know the real John Edwards". He is the epitome of a self-centered jerk destroying his family because he can''t keep his pants on.

[pollroller1]

Oh well, another wealthy politician gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar. So what else is new?

[emelder]

Certainly the whole Edwards affair thing is quite disappointing ... but, Christ said it best, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!" In other words, we ALL fall short, in one way or another ... we should be careful not to judge others.

[toldyouso12]

If the allegations are true, that is probably his child, he''s been making child support payments, a judge might order paternity testing and he can be in really hot water if he used campaign money to pay for his affair and its aftermath. Sort of like that governor in NY with the call girl only with a little something left over for him to remember it all by. Maybe he plans to marry his fling and raise their daughter after his wife dies--sort of ..a Prince Charles, Rudy Guiliani nightmare.

You know, do right by his fvck buddy and their love child at the expense of his other kids and the memory of his wife. Maybe this woman is who he plans to "move on" with.

This is terrible--but often is the action of many men (Think Prince Charles, Guiliani, Gingrich, McCain) Tacky, lowlife mfs.

[bigwhtpony]

This needs to be investigated by the IRS and possibly the FBI. Knowing the LAMEass Bush justice department, Edwards will likely skate.....like Jesse Jackson got to. They were too scared to go after his finances.

[bigwhtpony]

scumbag, low life, cheating, lying lawyer.
Posted by mbcsmith at 10:05 AM : Aug 13, 2008

And those are his GOOD points! :)

[toldyouso12]

Obviously Edwards didn''''t take the time to look into her past because she was a wild NYC party girl in the 80''''s. Her named used to be Lisa Druck and she was the model for a novel written by her boyfriend Jay McInerney exposing her way over-the-top lifestyle.

Edwards will now get exactly what he said wanted he wanted in one of the videos she made for his campaign "The world will NOW get to know the real John Edwards". He is the epitome of a self-centered jerk destroying his family because he can''''t keep his pants on.

Posted by balto_babs at 10:05 AM : Aug 13, 2008


When rich or powerful men (or any men for that matter) start thinking with that "little head" they don''t care where the woman is from, or what her history is--they just want to hit it--and if it is good to them, they want to hit it again and again, and again--men are less civilized or intelligent than we realized and often do things based on instinct and drive.

This is why many men will marry a stripper or prostitute--when that little head feels stroked--reason flies out of the window. Only a very naive outsider would think or expect a woman''s past to mean anything to a man who is fvcking her---he might have enough sanity not to marry her--but few have the sanity or control to stay away from a woman who strokes that head right.

[bigwhtpony]

he should give a complete interview to someone like Larry King or Wolf Blitzer Posted by ramos937 at 09:47 AM : Aug 13, 2008

Oh yeah....those two really have a reputation for asking the tough questions of democrats.

[toldyouso12]

Spitzer, that mayor in LA, now this...looks like the Dems are trying to take up where the GOP left off by getting caught having torrid affairs now--what is it, the power of karma? Or the Karma of power? LOL Either way, it is stupid, pathetic and self destructive--maybe the Dem party and the GOP need to stop having talks with members about party loyalty and start talking to them about keeping their fvcking d14cks to themselves lest they destroy their careers and hurt the party.

[madddem]

Emelder, with all do respect he left himself wide open
to critique when he ran for political office. This is just typical of the political climate in the U.S. Screw and get screwed!

[payasyougo]

When will Edwards and Hunter appear on Jerry Springer?
----
Most of Europe watches that show.

[toldyouso12]

This reminds me of the cariacature of parents who need to talk to their kids about sexxx and the repercussions, but dread it and put it off. It is way past time for Political parties to have a serious discussion with its members about sexxx--how it can be pursued in private, but what the public repercussions will be if they get caught.

I know many companies that demand that employees not engage in extramarital sexx that they know about (with each other) and any person who has a relationship with a direct report is either transferred or fired. The reason is conflict of interest, possible inequitable treatment and they want to stop people from sleeping their way into jobs.

The political parties should make sure their members understand the nature of who is in power and who stays in power (Foley helped the cons to fall) If members are indiscreet--they should either get a warning or be drummed out of the party. Of course they won''t do this--the word is out that Capitol hill is nothing but a fvckfest--and most of them have dirt on each other. Still, I''d kick out any member who thought so little of his office, his constituents or party--that he ''fvcked over everyone, cuz he felt like it'' pun intended.

[blueshadow19]

This is bad timing for the Obama bid for the White House. Does Edwards Morals become involved even though he will not be on the ticket,that it actually focuses on family values and honesty.He even backed Obama who was considering him for VP. A very selfish person may now lead the democrats to defeat.

[platteman]

Right!! I have a bridge for sale also!!!The big question is where did the money come from??? Why was she wisked away?? We know the answer to the latter, but who paid her off?? Edwards is not telling the whole truth. Why should he tell the truth? He has no regard for anyone other than himself. He is so full of himself that the mirror breaks when he looks into it. Too bad Obama didn''t pick Edwards to be VP.
Hillary was right. They all discriminated against her and laughed about it.

[toldyouso12]

This is bad timing for the Obama bid for the White House. Does Edwards Morals become involved even though he will not be on the ticket,that it actually focuses on family values and honesty.He even backed Obama who was considering him for VP. A very selfish person may now lead the democrats to defeat.

Posted by blueshadow19 at 10:27 AM : Aug 13, 2008


Actually, this is not bad timing. We are too caught up in Obama''s color to try to tie anyone to him. If Edwards was the VP pick, this would have been bad timing--as it stands, support or not--he was just a member of the Dem party--most are not seeing the downfall of the Dem party based on these members that are not even in play nationally.

Remember, Edwards is not even in Congress at this point and Kwame and Spitzer are state figures, not even regional. YOu might wish this was bad timing and that this will hurt Obama, but it is not likely--Edwards was not a kingmaker--he was just a man and other than Republicans (who are grasping at anything that they can) most will see his actions not as a party thing--but as a man who fell. To make it a party thing, and affect Obama, it will have to include many in the Congress or people on his staff--or even better, Obama himself. UNless we should see the continuing Craig and Vitter saga as hurting McCain? LMAO

[toldyouso12]

Right!! I have a bridge for sale also!!!The big question is where did the money come from??? Why was she wisked away?? We know the answer to the latter, but who paid her off?? Edwards is not telling the whole truth. Why should he tell the truth? He has no regard for anyone other than himself. He is so full of himself that the mirror breaks when he looks into it. Too bad Obama didn''''t pick Edwards to be VP.
Hillary was right. They all discriminated against her and laughed about it.

Posted by Platteman at 10:30 AM : Aug 13, 2008


I hate to say this (given my feelings about HRC) but at least there is little chance she would embarass her party or her candidacy this way.

[rmungin1]

Stop, making women who date married men a victim, she knew he was a married man and I believe if the baby is his she got pregnant on purpose. Someone need to ask Hunter''s family and friend why would she be with a man who is married (and have children) and have a baby, she is a mature woman who just could have said no. What about how she had a part in hurting his wife and children. Now all of a sudden she wants his family to know the truth....she is using her family and friends to get sympthy for her. She had a major part in hurting Elizabeth Edwards.

[renojmc]

This thing stinks to high heaven. Edwards is just another dirtbag democrat, but I repeat myself.

[minnick8-2009]

... we should be careful not to judge others.

Posted by emelder

That''s fine! I don''t care who Edwards or anyone else boinks. I do care what is done with campaign finances which are donations by people who thought they had picked a trust worthy candidate to whom they had contributed money.

If money changing hands turns out to be campaign funds paid from Edwards to Rielle, Edwards and Rielle owes every penny back to the donors. Yea, right, like that will happen. But, Edwards needs to face the consequences.

John Edwards nor anyone else has a right to mis appropriate public funding and if it is private money, then the IRS needs to investigate if taxes have been paid on amounts obviously over the 12,000 limit for a "gift."

[toldyouso12]

Stop, making women who date married men a victim, she knew he was a married man and I believe if the baby is his she got pregnant on purpose. Someone need to ask Hunter''''s family and friend why would she be with a man who is married (and have children) and have a baby, she is a mature woman who just could have said no. Posted by rmungin1 at 10:35 AM : Aug 13, 2008


I agree that she is not a victim and it takes 2 to tango--BUT she was not running for office or active in a party, she was not bound by marriage vows that she broke and she was not the one with a sick partner and kids. The horrible truth is that as the "other woman" if she was not married, she owed NOTHING to honoring or respecting a marriage if the man did not honor his own marriage.

The simple fact is, the marriage vows were between Edwards and his wife, never Edwards and all the other women willing to open their legs. Women need to get this and get it right--if the 2 people involved in a marriage do not respect and honor their vows--don''t expect the people standing on the outside to do so.

Women are not in solidarity when it comes to men--many have no scruples--but women need to stop getting mad at the "other woman" when her man screwwwws up--if not that woman then another--it is your MATE that is the fvcking problem, not the outside woman who is willing to accomodate your cheating husband.

[toldyouso12]

Women are not in solidarity when it comes to men--many have no scruples--but women need to stop getting mad at the "other woman" when her man screwwwws up--if not that woman then another--it is your MATE that is the fvcking problem, not the outside woman who is willing to accomodate your cheating husband.


Posted by toldyouso12 at 10:40 AM : Aug 13, 2008


I would add that many, many men are stupid when it comes to women. Here''s a clue--when a woman aspires to power, she will often go through a man--when a woman aspires to money--she will often go through a man. She will use her body as trading stock and will try to "secure" her share in his fortunes by having a baby thereby at least getting child support.

In other words, super, stupid, thinking with your pitiful d1cks, men--women will try to catch you with a baby if they want to share your money. Some will try to trap you into marriage, some will just go the baby route--others (the more scrupulous) will angle for marriage--but the game is the same. If you are married, either stay away from women who can still have children (and don''t believe them when they say they are on the pill or they can''t) do men, or use a prostitute and don''t let her know who you really are. Maybe this is why the GOP primarily go gayyyy--at least they protect their finances and don''t have to worry about "love children" LMFAO.

[renojmc]

... we should be careful not to judge others.

Posted by minnick8 at 10:39 AM : Aug 13, 2008
--------------------------------------------------

That''s just plain stupid. Of course we have to make judgments about people all of the time, especially elected officials. How else do we determine who we''ll vote for?

Edwards is an admitted adulterer. If that doesn''t bother you, particularly when he portrayed himself as a wonderful family man, then you are clearly wrong.

[emelder]

If money changing hands turns out to be campaign funds paid from Edwards to Rielle, Edwards and Rielle owes every penny back to the donors. Yea, right, like that will happen. But, Edwards needs to face the consequences.

Posted by minnick8 at 10:39 AM

You''re right. I can''t disagree.

[minnick8-2009]

If Rielle''s baby is not Edwards'' baby, then what has his campaign been paying her for? Do I feel compassion towards Rielle for being the mother of a baby out of marriage when Rielle knew she was pandering with a married man? No, I don''t. Like any other unwed mother, if she can''t work to support herself and her baby, she has the option to go on welfare. Oops, that would require taking a DNA test to determine the baby''s father. But then, if she went on welfare, she would probably would have to adjust her lifestyle down. Hahahahaha!! Well, I wonder if a reputable company would hire Rielle to make documentary videos?

I thought Pidgeon''s interview in which she called Rielle a moral, trust worthy, dynamic, loving, compassionate woman (or whatever words Pidgeon used) was a joke. We don''t need Pidgeon''s assessment of Rielle to form our opinions of Rielle. We can make our own assessment of Rielle based on her actions.

[emelder]

Scorecard: Nine Republicans ... two Democrats ... involved with corruption and cover-up.

[minnick8-2009]

... we should be careful not to judge others.

Posted by minnick8 at 10:39 AM : Aug 13, 2008

I didn''t write that, I was quoting emelder.

[urnot]

The guy is no longer a public figure and there are so many other important issues in the world and the US.

But America loves scandal better than "reality TV" so many are addicted to. So sad.

[deceler8]

What''s next...the love child getting $400 haircuts with Dad ?

[staycalm]

I have never felt that John Edwards was an honest, upfront guy and this incident simply proves that feeling however, I am terribly sad for his wife. Having lost a child myself, I know what an unbelievable tragedy that was to her. To have now lost her husband to a woman who doesn''t hold a candle to her and to also be faced with the prospect of losing her life to cancer is just too much for one person to bear. She doesn''t deserve this...no one does and my heart goes out to her. I pray that she finds some solace and happiness in her family and friends because I don''t think she''s going to find it in her cheating husband.

[talkingham]

Yet the millions McCain gets from the woman he had an affair with while he was married is not news. Remember what a stink the conservative press made about Kerry being married to an heiress. It''s obviously a double standard when it comes to media darling McCain. He''s at least as much a celeb as Obama. You can''t count on your fingers and toes the number of TV appearances he''s made on the Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, Jay Leno and others.

Edwards was always a fluff job and I''m not talking about his hair. Fakey Carter smile. Tv preacher populist speaking style, etc etc. The Dems are so much better off without him.

But McCain''s infidelity is just not an issue is it?

[superdem]

The stupidity of John Edwards seems to grow by the day. He''s gone from presidential contender to laughing stock of the nation. And still he seems to be trying to concoct a safety net to stop his free fall, to somehow save his public reputation. Just come clean, John. It makes no sense for you to be so involved with a woman who gave birth to someone else''s baby - just man up and admit everything. You can''t stop falling until you hit the ground. Your old life is gone, you kissed it goodbye when you kissed your lover''s lips. Elizabeth should put all your stuff out on the curb and let you deal with it. She could at least go out with dignity. It is impossible to understand how Edwards could have let this happen. He seemed so smart.

[madddem]

My heart goes out to Elizabeth and family. These two maggots are made for each other.

[terry_anna]

Rielle and her baby may be in harm''s way. Fred Baron is a powerful man, as conveyed in a 2001 Dallas Observer story http://www.dallasobserver.com/2001-03-29/news/homefryin-with-fred-baron/ Even in the Clinton administration, Baron was a powerful presence, often invited to White House state dinners (like this one, for instance: http://www.commondreams.org/views/022300-106.htm %u2026.One can%u2019t help but wonder if Rielle Hunter and her baby are now victims of power%u2026are they themselves being %u201Cheld%u201D prisoner, is their well-being in any way threatened? How would anyone even know? Statements have been released by John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, Fred Baron, etc., but not Rielle Hunter herself. And not Andrew Young. Why? Supposedly, Riellle Hunter was %u201Cwhisked away%u201D in a private jet two days before Edwards gave his bizarre scripted interview on ABC%u2019s NightLine. So much of this doesn%u2019t add up.

[madddem]

terry anna, We got it the first time. Are you a conspiracy theorist or what?

[splish3]

Reille knows that Edwards wife is dying. She knows it''s just a matter of time before he''ll be available to her. She is not going to blow up Edwards at this time by admitting anything or by participating in a DNA test, because she knows the truth about who the baby''s dad is and will have Edwards'' wrapped around her banker''s finger with no effort in due course.

[FEMMEONE]

Hold it - why are some of you bringing Hillary into this? Besides, she''s had her wild days, too.

There''s no doubt in my mind that the baby is his. There''s no doubt in my mind that there has been hush up money sent to her. There is no doubt in my mind that this has got to be killing his wife.

[perceptions5]

I ALWAYS saw John$400 as an empty suit vampire trial lawyer.

What''s scary is who are the folks that would even think about supporting this phony?

We need to have experts study those folks to see if we can find a cure.

So many missguided liberals in this great country of ours......................really sad indeed.

[reunionpi]

Andrew Young of the John Edwards story: The arrests for worthless checks, DWI, burglary, criminal mischief, the federal tax lien

webofdeception.com

[FEMMEONE]

Money sent to Reille may very well not be for the baby at all - it could be severance pay or some type of royalty for something she has published for him.

[rational_1]

Elizabeth should put all your stuff out on the curb and let you deal with it. She could at least go out with dignity. It is impossible to understand how Edwards could have let this happen. He seemed so smart.
Posted by superdem at 11:36 AM : Aug 13, 2008

He might be smart, but he still let his little head do the thinking for a while, and whamma presto, he''s in deep doodooo. Bubba''s a smart guy too, and his little head taking over got him into trouble as well. I don''t think it matters how much intellect you''re carrying in the big head - with these guys it eventually all comes down to a mixture of hubris, ego, testosterone and a sense of entitlement.

[rational_1]

Money sent to Reille may very well not be for the baby at all - it could be severance pay or some type of royalty for something she has published for him.
Posted by smbaldwin at 12:00 PM : Aug 13, 2008

Ya, some kind of services rendered....

[cybersam58]

Why aren''t we talking about the real problems facing America like the economy and IRAQ? Edwards is not running for Prez or VP. While we whine about Edwards affairs and overlook MCCains, were at war and losing good men and women all for the oil Gods! Now thats the story! What happened to mercy, forgiveness, and love thy fellowman as thyself?
Maybe the affair is just between hubby and wife instead of tyhe media hounds?

[neenga]

Edwards is a very wealthy man. He wouldn''t need campaign funds to pay her off. He can route it all through a foreign bank if he wants to. He''s worth millions.

[random_radar]

Isn''t paying for a mistress a legitimate campaign expense? You can write it off on your taxes as a business expense, too, can''t you?

The reason this story was ignored for so long is that it is so common that no one cares. If we made it illegal to run for office if you commit adultery, we wouldn''t have enough candidates to fill the offices.

[kesac4650]

Just like Jesse Jackson. Begs money and donations from the less affluent and the needy, and uses that donated money to rent a sexual consort.

[terry_anna]

Rielle and her baby may be in harm''s way. Fred Baron is a powerful man, as conveyed in a 2001 Dallas Observer story http://www.dallasobserver.com/2001-03-29/news/homefryin-with-fred-baron/ Even in the Clinton administration, Baron was a powerful presence, often invited to White House state dinners (like this one, for instance: http://www.commondreams.org/views/022300-106.htm %u2026.One can%u2019t help but wonder if Rielle Hunter and her baby are now victims of power%u2026are they themselves being %u201Cheld%u201D prisoner, is their well-being in any way threatened? How would anyone even know? Statements have been released by John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, Fred Baron, etc., but not Rielle Hunter herself. And not Andrew Young. Why? Supposedly, Riellle Hunter was %u201Cwhisked away%u201D in a private jet two days before Edwards gave his bizarre scripted interview on ABC%u2019s NightLine. So much of this doesn%u2019t add up.

[reunionpi]

Andrew Young of the John Edwards story: The arrests for worthless checks, DWI, burglary, criminal mischief, the federal tax lien

webofdeception.com