After nearly a year of avidly denying tabloid reports of an extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter, former Senator John Edwards admitted that the accusations were true, in a Nightline interview broadcast on August 8, 2008. While Edwards admitted to the affair, he denied rumors of a "love child."
Excerpts of John Edwards on Nightline
"In 2006, two years ago, I made a very serious mistake, a mistake that I am responsible for and no one else. In 2006 I told Elizabeth and asked for her forgiveness, asked God for his forgiveness. We have kept this within our family since that time."
"I went from being a young senator to being considered for vice president, running for president ... becoming a national public figure, all of which fed a self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe you can do whatever you want, you're invincible and there will be no consequences. And nothing could be further from the truth."
"My lord and my wife have forgiven me, so I'm going to move on."
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References
Fast Facts
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Interview conducted by ABC News' Bob Woodruff
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Program aired August 8, 2008, at 11
30 p.m. on ABC affiliates nationally
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According to Edwards, his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, has known about the affair since 2006
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Elizabeth Edwards diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004
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Edwards says wife's cancer was in remission at the start of the affair
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Edwards' political action committee has paid $114,000 to Hunter's video production company
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Denies allegations that payments were "hush money"
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Allegations first reported by National Enquirer in October 2007
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Hunter's child, Frances Quinn Hunter, was born February 27, 2008
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According to FOX News Channel, the birth certificate does not list a father
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Edwards previously called allegations "tabloid trash"
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Edwards denied accusations while running for 2008 Democratic nomination
