John Edwards Admits Affair, Denies He Is Father of Baby

By: E&P Staff John Edwards admits that he had an affair with videographer Rielle Hunter, but denies he is the father of her child, in an interview with ABC News' Nightline to air tonight.

He said his wife Elizabeth Edwardshad been aware of the affair since 2006 and that it took place while her cancer was in remission. He lied repeatedly about the affair, however, during his recent race for the White House.

The National Enquirer first reported the affair last autumn but the story remained dormant until the Enquirer broke a story two weeks ago about Edwards visiting Hunter at a Los Angeles hotel. It has charged that he is the father of the child and printed a blurry photo this week of a man it says is Edwards holding a baby at that hotel.

Edwards has not taken a paternity test but says the baby can't be his due to the timing of the birth (Februrary 2008) and the timing of his affair.
A former campaign aide, Andrew Young, has said he was the father of the child.

ABC reports today on its site, "Edwards today admitted the National Enquirer was correct when it reported he had visited Hunter at the Beverly Hills Hilton last month. The former Senator said his wife had not known about the meeting.

"Since becoming pregnant, Hunter has lived under assumed names in a series of expensive homes in North Carolina and, more recently, in Santa Barbara, California. Edwards denied paying any money to Hunter to keep her from going public but said it was possible some of his friends or supporters may have made payments without telling him. He said he would ask questions about any possible arrangement."