John Edwards Scandal: Enquirer Alleges Reille Hunter Resided with Youngs in CA
The National Enquirer’s long overdue John Edwards Love Child scandal “smoking gun” edition hit the supermarket shelves today, adding new fodder to an already unbelievable tale: Edwards’ alleged mistress and mother of his love child, resided with the “other” father, Andrew Young, and his family in California.
The story, John Edwards Coverup Explodes, included purported photos of Edwards holding his new “love child”, 5-month-old Frances Quinn Hunter, in a Los Angeles Beverly Hilton hotel. The Enquirer has also supplied new details on the principal players: the mother and alleged mistress, Reille Hunter, the “other” father of the love child, Andrew Young, and Young’s family.
It’s been over a week since John Edwards dodged reporters after the AARP Symposium on July 30 in Washington, D.C.. Edwards was in the midst of a nationwide tour of his latest poverty organization, Half In Ten, when the Enquirer reported Edwards’ alleged hookup with Hunter and the baby on July 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
On July 22, Edwards’ poverty tour took him to Denver. The next day Edwards was in Houston.
It was in Houston that an intrepid reporter asked about the Enquirer, and Edwards, visibly shaken, his voice garbled, said “tabloid trash… lies”.
On the 30th, Edwards was in D.C. at an AARP symposium when he slipped out the rear door of the Monoco Hotel. Edwards refused to answer reporters questions with a cursory “sorry,” and “I don’t have time now, sorry”. Since that statement Edwards hasn’t been seen by the public.
Go West, Young Man
The Enquirer originally reported in its December 18 edition that a visibly pregnant Hunter had been ensconced in the same upscale gated community in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as Andrew Young, political operative, and former right hand man of Edwards, and his wife and kids. The community is located just a few miles from Edwards’ campaign headquarters.
Both Hunter and Young issued statements. Hunter via the Enquirer article, Young through Jerome Armstrong and Mydd.com. In her statement, Hunter claimed Young was the father of her unborn child:
“The fact that I am expecting a child is my personal and private business. This has no relationship to nor does it involve John Edwards in any way. Andrew Young is the father of my unborn child.”
Young’s statement on Dec. 19, published by Jerome Armstrong on Mydd.com, claimed Young was the father. Young asked for “privacy” in order to make “amends” to his family:
Is this really happening?
by Jerome Armstrong, Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 03:30:27 PM ESTThe fact that a denial has to be released about a couple that’s expecting a child…
Statement On Behalf Of Andrew Young
December 19, 2007
As confirmed by Ms. Hunter, Andrew Young is the father of her unborn child.Senator Edwards knew nothing about the relationship between these former co-workers, which began when they worked together in 2006.
As a private citizen who no longer works for the campaign, Mr. Young asks that the media respect his privacy while he works to make amends with his family.
Pamela J. Marple
Attorney for Mr. Young
–Mydd.com
A “Family Affair”
We’re not sure just what kind of “amends” Young was referring to, as the Enquirer reported in its latest issue that Young packed up his wife and kids and moved to Santa Barbara in December during the same time period Hunter went “west” to the same city.
Amazingly, the Enquirer reported in December that Hunter was now ensconced in the same upscale gated community in Chapel Hill, NC, just a few blocks from where the Young family resided. The Enquirer also reported that sources claimed Hunter and the Young family had dinner together. Even more astounding, the Enquirer is now reporting that Hunter lived with the Young’s in Santa Barbara in a very swank gated mansion until an incident that we won’t reveal. For further info see the latest Enquirer issue, John Edwards Coverup Explodes!
After the July 22 issue of the Enquirer, the baby’s birth certificate was outed, the space that designated the baby’s father was left blank. Yesterday, the Enquirer released online a fuzzy photo of Edwards holding the baby at the Beverly Hilton on the evening of July 21. Edwards purportedly left Hunter’s room at 2:40am where he was met by Enquirer reporters. Edwards was said to have run from the reporters then locked himself into a men’s room until a hotel security guard was summoned to escort him from the hotel.
While Hunter and Young claim the baby is his, there hasn’t been any photos released of Young with the baby. Nor has Young’s name been added to the birth certificate.
The Enquirer is also alleging Edwards is paying “hush” money to both Hunter and Young. Young is purportedly receiving $20,000 a month while Hunter gets shortchanged, at $15,000. If the Enquirer allegations are false, they have one hell of lawsuit on their hands, as Edwards, a former civil trial lawyer who made millions in medical malpractice suits, would hardly sit by and allow such claims to go unchallenged.
The Enquirer has more info in its latest print edition.
By LBG
Source – National Enquirer – The Photos Everyone Been Waiting For
Source – National Enquirer – Edwards Hush Money to Mistress
Source – National Enquirer – Presidential Cheating Scandal! Alleged Affair Could Wreck John Edwards’ Campaign
Source – John Edwards Love Child Scandal
Image – Family Affair
Since you and the rest of the gossip hounds are determined to use innuendo rather than actual, you now, FACTS, let me offer your readers a tiny bit of information about that California birth certificate and the absence of the father’s name. In California, where the mother and father are not married to each other, the only way that the father’s name can appear on the birth certificate is if (1) a signed notarized affidavit with the signatures of the mother and the father asserting paternity and accepting all the responsibility is filed at the time the original birth record is submitted to the County health department, or (2) the same type of affidavit with BOTH signatures is filed with the California Department of Public Health after the original birth certificate is issued.
In other words, yet another item in this ongoing trail of innuendo and slime is nothing more than poor reporting. If Andrew Young wasn’t available at the time the original birth record was submitted or if he chose not to sign such an affidavit-for whatever personal and/or legal reason he might have, then his name cannot be on the birth certificate. Neither could Ms. Hunter put anyone else’s name there — without their express consent.
But then, I assume this inconvenient and very public fact would interfer with the flow of the slime.
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The National Enquirer posted a very clear photograph of a house in Beverly HIlls today.
They even posted a value of that house (it was really, really expensive, trust me).
Couldn’t anyone go to the supermarket and buy the National Enquirer?
And couldn’t that same someone now with the Enquirer and Internet Access go on no less than three popular mapping websites and locate pictures of that house?
And couldn’t that someone run the MLS (muliti listing service) data on that house on no less than fifty websites and determine who held the mortgage, who bought it, and when?
If people want facts, and the traditional media is refusing to provide them, maybe that’s a good place to start?
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Another fact-based detail for this reality-absent story: The AARP symposium which I attended was held at the Hotel Monaco in Washington DC. This hotel is at the end of a block and has entrances on three sides, none of which are “back doors.” John Edwards entered and exited the building out of the same door, on 7th St NW. He arrived just in time to give his presentation and left immediately afterwards. The reporting implies that he was dodging reporters. In fact, having been away from home for several days in a row, Edwards was hurrying to catch a commercial flight back home to have dinner with Elizabeth on their 31st wedding anniversary.
So let’s see, reporters’ questions about a patently false story that he has already called “tabloid trash” or an anniversary dinner? Which do you think should have been his priority that day?
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I guess it all depends on whether you’re one of the Democrats planning the National Convention in two weeks, or a dying wife who just found out seven days ago that your husband cheated on you.
Rock——————————————-John Edwards ———————————— Hard Place
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to Decisions:
1. Elizabeth is LIVING with cancer, not dying.
2. This non-story “broke” almost a year ago so the “news” of Ms. Hunter’s child is not actually news at all.
3. Amazing how many people are assuming that the National Enquirer, paper of record for Bat Boy and Bush’s alien-love child, is reporting the gods-honest truth just this once.
4. John Edwards has already said he didn’t have an affair with Hunter and that the child is not his. Ms. Hunter said she didn’t have an affair with John Edwards and that the child is not his. The father, Andrew Young, has already said he had an affair with Rielle Hunter and that the child is his. I understand these are inconvenient bits of actual information that could undermine the more salacious if less fact based story, but life’s difficult that way sometimes.
5. Our standing-strong-in-the-face-of-controversy-even-if-it’s-based-on-lies-and-innuendo Democratic conventioneers are not exactly noted for their courage now are they? Wait, was that a light breeze wafting in through that slightly ajar window?! Quick, head for cover!! is more their speed. More’s the pity since Edwards was the only one who’s ever gone into a fight against Big Industry and Big Insurance and won.
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Erdie,
The “reports” came from the Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News & Observer…as well as the McClatchy NewsPapers wire….
Hardly anti-Edwards papers.
Are you now calling them “tabloid trash”?
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Erdie,
Your arguments might have been more believable to those new to the Edwards story in December, before the NC papers got onto the story in July.
As I noted in your comments to another of our stories, both time and events have passed you by.
Sorry.
Thanks for taking for taking the time to stop by, read and comment.
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Decisions, decisions, decisions..
It’s a very sad situation all the way round.
The argument is this: what Edwards does/did in his private life is private. Edwards forfeited some of his right to privacy when he ran for public office, especially when his platform included lectures on America’s “morality”. No one believes Edwards is infallible but he could have at least behaved himself while running for the office of the President.
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Edrie Irvine:
And yet Edwards has not denied he was caught by the Enquirer sneaking out of Hunter’s Beverly Hilton hotel room at 2:45am on July 22.
Since you know Edwards so well, perhaps you can clue us in as to where Edwards has been since July 30. The MSM is reporting Edward refuses to speak to reporters while fellow Democrats have publicly asked Edwards to come forward and either deny the rumors or tell the truth.
Edwards is a big boy, he should be able to address this story, instead he’s no where to be found.
What’s up with that?
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PS -
Edwards at the Beverly Hilton was not “innuendo”.
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PSS
Edwards is getting a reputation of being a coward by his own actions.
He wants to be President, which is not the type of profession where you can run and hide in the men’s room when you don’t want to answer tough questions.
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The “reports” you mention are reporting on the NE reporting, and on the reactions to the NE’s story being repeated. Having another news outlet repeat what one says doesn’t make it any more true or credible.
Tomorrow morning you open your local paper to this story:
It doesn’t matter how serious this paper may be in all its other articles, this one story is still ludicrous. It doesn’t make the Bush alien-love child story any less ridiculous if every paper in the country ran with it.
I never said the Charlotte or Raleigh papers are trash, neither do I think they are covering themselves in glory by elevating rumor to the level of “serious” political journalism.
John Edwards called the story itself “tabloid trash” and it is. Repeating tabloid trash doesn’t make the trash stink any less, no matter how well you garnish the prose.
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The “reports” you mention are reporting on the NE reporting, and on the reactions to the NE’s story being repeated. Having another news outlet repeat what one says doesn’t make it any more true or credible.
Tomorrow morning you open your local paper to this story:
It doesn’t matter how serious this paper may be in all its other articles, this one story is still ludicrous. It wouldn’t make the National Enquirer’s Bush alien-love child story any less ridiculous if every paper in the country ran with it.
I never said the Charlotte or Raleigh papers are trash, neither do I think they are covering themselves in glory by elevating rumor to the level of “serious” political journalism.
John Edwards called the story itself “tabloid trash” and it is. Repeating tabloid trash doesn’t make the trash stink any less, no matter how well you garnish the prose.
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(Sorry for the duplicate post above.)
LBG1:
Edwards hasn’t denied all of the elements of the latest rash of NE stories, he’s called the whole thing tabloid trash.
Was he at the Beverly Hills Hilton? Quite likely, he was scheduled to be in LA that day and has stayed at that hotel several times in the past. Was he there to see Hunter? You and I don’t know except what NE claims. By your comments, it appears you’re taking their story as fact. I don’t because too much of their story doesn’t stand up to either Edwards’s past personal or professional history or known facts as opposed to speculation and unsubstantiated accusations.
I also keep going back to what Edwards, Hunter, and Young said last year. If Edwards came out every day for the next two weeks and said the same thing over and over again, there are still people who now say he has to speak up who won’t believe him. You call his not letting this tabloid story dictate his life or schedule cowardice; I call it not being cowed by tabloid bullies and a scandal-crazed public.
And again, the Carolina papers’ coverage is not independent reporting. They have not corroborated anything. They have selectively quoted those who support the premise that Edwards should honor this trash by somehow proving a negative. (Others were contacted but their answers did work well with the premise that Edwards *must* speak out.). My criticism is quite up to date and aimed at the story being spread around now.
Ms Hunter has named Mr. Young as the father. Mr. Young has acknowledged paternity. What exactly is Mr. Edwards supposed to be refuting?
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Sounds like Rielle was wanting more than money from Edwards (she could have gotten a lot more than 15K per month in child support, interviews, book deals) and insisted on continuing to have a relationship with him. He wasn’t giving her the attention she wanted and Elizabeth just won’t hurry up and die, so she and her “friend” Bob set Edwards up. The babydaddy pic was probably taken with a camera phone on the sly.
Otherwise, we’d be seeing “cease and desist” threat letters from Chucky and his lawyers.
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Edrie Irvine
Secretary
White & Case LLP
Updated
Q3/2007
John Edwards
$346 [address deleted]
[NOTE: DBKP does not publish addresses of commenters to stories. However, this address is available for those curious, as Who da daddy points out, on the Internet.]
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How long has Edrie been a paid shill for Chucky?
Google Edrie Irvine John Edwards
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Edrie Irvine said:
I also keep going back to what Edwards, Hunter, and Young said last year. If Edwards came out every day for the next two weeks and said the same thing over and over again, there are still people who now say he has to speak up who won’t believe him. You call his not letting this tabloid story dictate his life or schedule cowardice; I call it not being cowed by tabloid bullies and a scandal-crazed public.
I can see where you would refer back to those prior statements. And yet, it’s not so much words is it, at this point, as actions.
John Edwards’ actions, getting caught sneaking into the Beverly Hilton to visit Hunter and the baby on July 21. Those actions occurred after Edwards’ denial.
For every action is a reaction, Edrie. Your man, Edwards, hid in the men’s room from Enquirer reporters. The security guard who came to Edwards rescue, confirmed it was Edwards cowering in the bathroom.
It’s not only us but members of the DNC who want Edwards to either deny the Enquirer story or tell the truth.
And the “tabloid trash” label is getting old, Edrie. It’s a flimsy argument at best.
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NOTE:
Erdie’s bio from DemocracyForAmerica.com:
“tree-hugging, bleeding-heart, ACLU-card-carrying progressive liberal and damn proud of it!”
This is not to say that Erdie’s self-description invalidates any of the points she attempts to make. It does however, put her spin in perspective.
And again, the Carolina papers’ coverage is not independent reporting. They have not corroborated anything. They have selectively quoted those who support the premise that Edwards should honor this trash by somehow proving a negative. (Others were contacted but their answers did work well with the premise that Edwards *must* speak out.). My criticism is quite up to date and aimed at the story being spread around now.
How do you answer the paper’s reporting of Edwards evading their reporters in Washington, DC? Also, that since that time, Edwards has disappeared from public view.
If Edwards came out every day for the next two weeks and said the same thing over and over again, there are still people who now say he has to speak up who won’t believe him.
IF Edwards had came out only one day after the Enquirer named Rielle Hunter as his mistress in December, chances are, we wouldn’t be writing about this now.
And this is all I have time for.
Thanks again for stopping by and adding to the discussion.
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I am not now nor have I ever been paid by John Edwards, his campaign or any organizations/persons even remotely connected to him. I do not hide my identity, unlike the rest of you hiding behind your internet nameswho think publishing someone’s home address on the internet is appropriate. And I am actually capable of seeing a photoshopped picture for what it is.
As I have said before, when facts inconveniently get in the way of a story, some choose to go with reality while other choose to stick with the slime.
In answer to “admin” comment above, I have already responded to the non-story of Edwards supposedly evading their reporters in DC. I WAS THERE for heaven’s sake. He didn’t duck out of a “back door”. He entered and exited by the same door, on a very public street. I know he was heading home on a commercial flight because of sources in Chapel Hill. He smiled at the reporters, he acknowledged they were there, he didn’t duck and run.
We’re having this discussion now because despite his response last year, despite Hunter’s statements, despite Andrew Young’s public statements, despite all that, you and others continue to report on this non-story as if it were proven fact — which it is not. You have time to write about it but keep saying you don’t have time to defend writing about it.
Dismiss me all you want — though if I start getting hate mail I’ll at least know where it’s coming from — but facts are facts, and you’re NOT reporting facts.
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Political contributions are public record. Your privacy hasn’t been violated. You work at a law firm. You should know this.
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I didn’t say my privacy had been violated; I deliberately used my own name instead of hiding behind some screen name because I’m not hiding anything, including the facts. How quickly, though, did the leap occur between providing my address and suggesting I was/am a “paid shill”? It would seem that you follow the tactics of “if you can’t refute the facts, destroy the messenger” so well utilized by bullies and cowards on the internet and in (right-wing-nuttery) politics.
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Erdie,
As I pointed out, others who were at the Monaco that day dispute your recall of events–in particular, the reporters who wrote on this for the Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News & Observer and later, the McClatchy Newspapers wire report.
You may want to take up your version of Edwards’ exit with these reporters–who have different memories of the day than you.
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Edrie
Dismiss me all you want — though if I start getting hate mail I’ll at least know where it’s coming from — but facts are facts, and you’re NOT reporting facts.
Evidently you haven’t noticed that as a “hate site” we’d already deleted your address from the other comment.
What “facts” are you referring to?
We’ve reported several times that Edwards denied the affair on October 11 to AP reporters.
We’ve reported that Reille Hunter denied she was having an affair with Edwards in both the Enquirer and on Mydd.com.
We’ve reported that Andrew Young claimed he was the father on Mydd.com.
Since you claim we’re haven’t reported “facts” then you don’t believe to these to be true?
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Hey Edrie Irvine, call me when you get past step #3!
1) Shock
2) Anger
3) Denial
4) Despair
5) Acceptance that John Edwards has always been this much of a douche-bag
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
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