Guide Note

On August 8, 2008, ABC News reported that John Edwards admitted to having an affair with Rielle Hunter. In an interview for Nightline, Edwards said that although he was involved with Hunter, he did not love her and was not the father of her child, Frances Quinn Hunter. On August 13, 2008, the National Enquirer ran a story claiming that Edwards resumed his affair with Hunter after confessing the relationship to his wife, Elizabeth.^{1 2}

Fast Facts

1. Alleged affair between 2008 presidential candidate John Edwards and former campaign worker, Rielle Hunter
2. First reported October 10, 2007 in National Enquirer
3. The two reportedly met in a bar, but didn't expect to start an illicit relationship³
4. Information allegedly leaked to the National Enquirer by an anonymous source close to Hunter³
5. In December 2007, the Enquirer reported that Hunter was carrying John Edwards' "love child"⁴
6. In July 2008, the Los Angeles Times reportedly banned its bloggers from posting stories about the alleged Edwards affair⁵
7. In August 2008, Edwards admitted to having an affair with Hunter, but denied that he was the father of her child¹
8. The Enquirer quoted an anonymous source in an August 13, 2008, story as saying Edwards' affair with Hunter was rekindled after he confessed the indiscretion to his wife²

The National Enquirer reported in late 2007 that former Senator John Edwards was involved with Hunter—a former employee of his 2008 presidential campaign—in an extramarital affair that had yielded a "love child." Edwards denied the reports.^{6 4}

On July 22, 2008, John Edwards was intercepted by Enquirer reporters while making a late-night trip to the Beverly Hilton. It was verified that Rielle Hunter was staying at the hotel at the time. According to the subsequent Enquirer report, though Edwards did not answer any questions, he was observed going to great lengths to enter and exit the hotel without being seen.⁷

On July 23, 2008, Edwards was asked about the latest Enquirer allegations, while appearing at an event for the community organization ACORN.

• Questioner: "Senator, how do you feel about the situation in Los Angeles on Monday with regard to your future in politics and a potential Obama administration?"

• Edwards: "I don't know what you're... none. I don't...

• Questioner: "The National Enquirer story?"

• Edwards: "I don't talk about these tabloids. They're tabloid trash, just full of lies."⁸

On July 24, 2008, two National Enquirer reporters filed a criminal complaint against security at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, California. Alan Butterfield and Alexander Hitchen claim hotel security tried to stop them from questioning John Edwards in the basement of the hotel on July 22, 2008. The Enquirer reported Edwards was at the hotel visiting his alleged mistress, Rielle Hunter, and their child.⁹

On July 25, 2008, FOX News quoted a security guard as saying Edwards was in the Beverly Hilton on July 22, 2008. The unidentified guard claimed he escorted Edwards out of a restroom and past the Enquirer reporters around 2 a.m.. The guard says he didn't recognize Edwards until after the incident, when he was shown a photograph of the former North Carolina senator.¹⁰