John Edwards Sex Tape Exists, Aide Says

Elizabeth Edwards stood faithfully by her husband even after she learned he had an affair on the campaign trail while she battled cancer. She recently described the "slow process" of trying to rebuild her trust in him.

Now, with the word out that she and her husband have separated, a former aide is claiming he found a sex tape of John Edwards and his mistress, Rielle Hunter. He also claims Edwards urged him to convince Hunter to have an abortion after she became pregnant with Edwards' child.

Edwards just a week ago admitted to fathering a child with Hunter, as details of their relationship emerged from a book by his former aide Andrew Young.

In an ABC News interview, Young says he found a sex tape of Hunter and Edwards in a pile of trash in a house where Hunter once lived. He also says Edwards asked him in late May 2007 to convince Hunter to terminate her pregnancy but that Hunter refused.

Elizabeth Edwards, 60, has declined to comment through a friend, Andrea Purse, who confirmed her separation from John Edwards. But Elizabeth's sister told The Associated Press that she remains strong.

"She's doing as well as you could expect," Nancy Anania said. "I'm really proud of her that, somehow, she's got strength that you rarely see in a person."

John Edwards issued a brief statement Wednesday, expressing care for the mother of four of his children.

"It is an extraordinarily sad moment, but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth," he said.

Purse did not reveal how long the couple has been apart. North Carolina law typically requires couples to be separated for a year before divorcing.