Edwards-Hunter chronology

Posted: Friday, August 08, 2008 4:16 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray and Lauren Appelbaum
October 10, 2007: The National Enquirer first reports on an alleged affair between Edwards and Hunter.

October 11, 2007: Hunter denies the affair through a statement on the liberal blog, MyDD:
"The innuendoes and lies that have appeared on the internet and in the National Enquirer concerning John Edwards are not true, completely unfounded and ridiculous. My video production company was hired by the Edwards camp on a 6 month contract, which we completed December 31, 2006. When working for the Edwards camp, my conduct as well as the conduct of my entire team was completely professional. This concocted story is just dirty politics and I want no part of it."

October 11, 2007: Speaking to reporters in Summerton, SC, Edwards denies the affair. "I've been in love with the same woman for 30-plus years and, as anybody who's been around us knows, she's an extraordinary human being, warm, loving, beautiful, sexy and as good a person as I have ever known," Edwards said. "So the story's just false."

December 19, 2007: National Enquirer reports that Hunter is pregnant and Edwards is the father of the child.

December 19, 2007: An ex-Edwards aide, Andrew Young, admits that he is the father of Hunter's child through attorney Pamela J. Marple: "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."

July 22, 2008: National Enquirer reports that it caught Edwards visiting Hunter at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, CA.

July 23, 2008: At an ACORN press conference in Houston, Edwards said "the tabloid trash is full of lies."

August 6, 2008: National Enquirer publishes photos of Edwards with Hunter.

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Comments

All this commotion, and he only had one affair?

Bill C., NY (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:24 PM)

Rielle Hunter is hot!

Jason Hunter (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:25 PM)

For me it's a reminder why it would be a bad idea to put Hillary on the ticket. Bill's affairs would just be a huge distration in addition to his narcissistic behaviour.

Keith, PA (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:25 PM)

Not Edwards baby? Only purely by chance. Looks like the campaign aid got to her just before John did.

Heather Miles, Tacoma Washington (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:26 PM)

We know what the NE was doing...but was the MSM doing? Apparently nothing and I think the American people should be asking themselves why that is? If the NE has been running with a story of McCain would they have also sat back doing nothing? Don't get me wrong...strong democrat here...but the MSM should really hang its head in shame...I mean what if Edwards had become our nominee??? Isn't anyone doing investigative reporting anymore...or do they just repeat what another network or reporter has reported?

Eliot, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:27 PM)

National Enquire has certain things on a certain Democratic nominee too. In time though, in time.

Nancy Evens, Scottsdale AZ (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:28 PM)

More proof the MSM is in the tank for the Democrats. I never thought I would see the day that the National Enquirer would have more credibility than the MSM.

Toby Hill, Carrollton, Texas (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:28 PM)

MSM has been playing duck and cover with this story for a long time. If it were a Republican indulging in this behavior, it would lead every night on the networks. Olbermann would have material for two years if this was a Republican.

Biased are the MSM (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:32 PM)

This is great news. He's human. If the public stayed out of politicians' personal lives, there would have been no Lewinsky scandal. And thus Al Gore would have won & there would be no Iraq & we'd have a good energy policy by now & gas would not be 4 bucks.

I rather have Bill running around the white house than the last 8 yrs.

Edwards does good things in his life otherwise & now Elizabeth who probably already knows has to hear all this crap. Yes he's wrong, but he's still a better person than most of us.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:32 PM)

So where's the lavish reporting on McCain's affairs? Or what he did to destroy his injured wife emotionally and financially?

Failure to report on this now proves the MSM is gutless!

Americans for FAIR reporting (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:33 PM)

Boy..
This certainly has brought out all the National Enquirer types.
I think people should just mind their business.
Why he did this is certainly not our business. It is news that he did have an affair, but I think we should leave the judgements to the Edwards family. I agree with a previous poster...."he who is without sin cast the first stone"

Treebranch, OH (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:33 PM)

This is very sad for the family. PERIOD.

As far as political fallout, this shouldn't have any effect, since everyone knows John McCain screwed around on his disfigured wife, Carol, for years before he met his meal ticket, Cindy.

Carrie in TX (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:33 PM)

Really, now we are going to quote the National Enquirer? It was relevant insofar as it relates to politics and the convention; but this just seems too gossipy.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:33 PM)

One wonders what ghosts lie in the closet of McCain that has not been discovered. If anyone is getting a pass on past behavior would that not be McCain, the presses golden boy. If the National Inquirer has anything on any other candidate Nancy Evens it won't be on the Dem candidate but rather on the Republican candidate. Funny how when McCain denied having an affair with that lobbyist the press just seemed to drop the whole thing.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:34 PM)

"If it were a Republican indulging in this behavior, it would lead every night on the networks."

A Republican would have to stop trolling foe sex in airport bathroom stalls or stop fondling underage male Congressional pages for something like this to happen to tham - how's that ever going to happen?

Show us the way, Godly right wing!

Don't worry (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:35 PM)

Remember when all those conservative preachers had affairs? Those were story #1 on the Network news for weeks on end. This one involved a Democrat, and it takes a tabloid to drag into the sunlight.

Tinker Bell (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:35 PM)

There is a republican strategist on MSNBC commenting that there probably won't be a statement from the republican side.

I guess not....we wouldn't want McCain to have to explain himself now would we????
Straight talk indeed!

Treebranch, OH (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:35 PM)

This is NOT NEWS!!!!

Thank you.

Jay, The Batcave (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:36 PM)

Wow i bet the rest of the media feels like chumps now. The National Enquirer breaks the story!

Cory, Tampa, Florida (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:37 PM)

A woman who sleeps with a married man who has children and a wife with a potentially fatal disease is not hot Jason. Yuk!

Ann in VA (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:37 PM)

Edwards does good things in his life otherwise & now Elizabeth who probably already knows has to hear all this crap. Yes he's wrong, but he's still a better person than most of us.

A Charles, LA, CA

I guess will let this person speak for themselves.

Nice sendoff for Liz too. What a guy John is.

L T Runners (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:37 PM)

"One wonders what ghosts lie in the closet of McCain that has not been discovered."

He's responsible for the fire on the USS Forrestal, but that's not exactly "undiscovered" is it, Bush?

All Burned up (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:37 PM)

Exactly, Treebranch.

The GOP wants to skate by without having McCain let America know what he REALLY did to his first wife!!!

Grow a pair, MSM - Report on McCain! (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:40 PM)

Don't worry (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:35 PM)

Don't Worry:

Sorry to the bloggers for making a comment off a sad event but Dont' Worry, do you think a Republican behaving in this manner might receive more attention and more reporting becuase it is the Republcians who are always claiming to be the "moral" party while trying to label the democrats as immoral traitors. If you don't want the excessive press the ndon't go around claiming you have the high moral road above others.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:41 PM)

Can we get a detailed timeline like this about all of John McCain's positions? You know like

-said we may be in Iraq 100 years
- said he'd have us out of Iraq by the end of his first term
- said a timeline equaled surrender
- said Barack Obama's 16 month timeline sounded pretty good

Feel free to improvise - this same game works for the mortgage crisis, the economy, and the energy crisis as well!

How about one that lists all the time John McCain "doesn't remember" how he voted?

How about one starting with "I will run a repsectful campaign" and ending with "Senator Obama thinks he's Moses." (I'm surprised John McCain didn't follow that ad up with "I knew Moses, and Obama's no Moses." lol)

I'll be waiting . . .

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:42 PM)

Look, these men and women of the MSM are sitting on a lot of stuff. They hesitate for three reasons:

1. Rumors are not news.

2. They are proud and happy, and not a little bit superior, for knowing how things "really work." What's the point of telling you peons (of course, unless it can get somebody a hot book contract).

3. They can't tell all they know or the lid would be blown off our government. Correct me if I am wrong, but at least 75% of the males in Congress have had affairs directly related to their access to women who need Daddy. That is a secret I doubt will be posted here. These guys at FR know the biz very well, but they hate for people who are supposed to be spoon fed to start throwing the food back.

MSM may have been caught with its underwear down around their ankles on this one, but nobody loves it more than they do.

Gives them broad excuse for not doing the hard work of journalism.

Mark Thieme (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:42 PM)

This is NOT NEWS!!!!

Thank you.
Jay, The Batcave (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:36 PM)

You are right, thank YOU!

If it were a Republican indulging in this behavior, it would lead every night on the networks. Olbermann would have material for two years if this was a Republican.
Biased are the MSM (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:32 PM)

That's because Republicans are the ones for "family values" and against "morally" corrupt behavior. When you rail against certain actions, then engage in those actions, well, you are going to be hit pretty hard over the head with it. Larry Craig is a perfect example.

James, TX (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:44 PM)

I am glad Obama is on vacation.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:44 PM)

This is NOT NEWS!!!!

Thank you.

Jay, The Batcave

//////

The New York Times thought the alledged affair of McCain's was news. Unlike the Enquirer, they had no evidence. You're not equating the NYTs with the Enquirer are you? That would be a huge put down, to the Enquirer.

Brittney T., San Jose CA (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:45 PM)

@Toby

"More proof the MSM is in the tank for the Democrats. I never thought I would see the day that the National Enquirer would have more credibility than the MSM."

Yep - this should frighten every single American.

I've been doing "Edwards Rielle" searches on news.google.com for 2 weeks now. Mostly foreign and "tabloid" hits , 20 to 30 in total. An hour ago it was over 1000, a few minutes ago 1300+.

Educate your family in friends. At a minimum we should all be checking out www.realclearpolitics.com and www.powerlineblog.com (many others but these are two of the best in my opinion for fair and balanced commentary and newslinks).

Rob, Springfield PA (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:45 PM)

I really don't care about this story, jusy another example of the media 'slouching towards Bethlehem'.
For all you journalists that don't get the allusion read WB Yeats poem 'The Second Coming'.
"and what rough beast,its hour come round at last,
slouches towards Bethlehem to be born".
This is also a great allusion to use for Cheneys speech at the convention, because he also has "a gaze blank and pitiless like the sun".

John Alexander,PA (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:47 PM)

James TX -
That's because Republicans are the ones for "family values" and against "morally" corrupt behavior.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

So what James is saying is that Democrats are against family values and are for morally corrupt behavior.

Thanks for clearing that up James.

Lily Sands, Oklahoma (Sent Friday, August 08, 2008 4:47 PM)

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