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• Rielle Hunter is the woman John Edwards admits to having an affair with while she was on his campaign staff in 2007 and 2008. The paternity of Hunter's daughter, born in 2008, has not been established, although there has been speculation that she may indeed be Edwards' love child. The former senator, who originally denied having an affair with Hunter, acknowledged the relationship in an August 2008 interview with ABC's Nightline.LA Times: John Edwards denies affair with campaign worker (October 11, 2007) National Enquirer: Senator John Edwards Caught with Mistress and Love Child (July 22, 2008) ABC News: Edwards Admits Sexual Affair; Lied as Presidential... (August 8, 2008)

  Hunter reportedly demanded a paternity test in May of 2009 to confirm that Edwards is the father of her child.Perez Hilton: John Edwards' Babymomma Wants A Paternity Test! (May 6, 2009) That news was followed by the announcement of an alleged sex tape between Edwards and Hunter that supposedly contains footage of the two discussing how they'd marry in the event that Edwards' wife Elizabeth succumbed to cancer.

• Fast Facts

  1. Formerly known as Lisa Druck
  2. Occupation: Filmmaker
  3. Produced campaign films for Edward's presidential run
  4. Reportedly paid $114,000 for her work on campaign videos for John Edwardsthe National Enquirer: UPDATE: JOHN EDWARDS LOVE CHILD SCANDAL! (December 19, 2007)
  5. Had an affair with John EdwardsNational Enquirer: Sex, More Lies and Videotape (August 13, 2008)
  6. Gave birth to a baby girl, Frances Quinn Hunter, in February 2008National Enquirer: The Photos Everyone's Been Waiting For! (August 6, 2008)
  7. August 2008: The National Enquirer claimed Edwards restarted his affair with Hunter after he confessed the relationship to his wife, Elizabeth EdwardsNational Enquirer: Sex, More Lies and Videotape (August 13, 2008)
  8. The Enquirer described Hunter as "a drug-using New York party girl in the '80s"The National Enquirer: PRESIDENTIAL CHEATING SCANDAL! ALLEGED AFFAIR (October 10, 2007)
  9. Edwards affair is discussed in his wife's memoir, Resilience, though Hunter is not mentioned by nameExtra TV: Elizabeth Edwards: Affair Made Me Puke (April 30, 2009)
  10. Elizabeth Edwards has terminal breast cancerExtra TV: Elizabeth Edwards: Affair Made Me Puke (April 30, 2009)
  11. Elizabeth Edwards said in her book that her husband "admitted to an affair" in 2006Extra TV: Elizabeth Edwards: Affair Made Me Puke (April 30, 2009)

• Elizabeth Edwards Memoir

  The wife of John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, wrote a memoir that will be released May 12, 2009. Although Elizabeth Edwards does not discuss the paternity of Hunter's child in her book Resilience, Edwards does reveal she "threw up" after learning of her husband's affair with Hunter.Extra TV: Elizabeth Edwards: Affair Made Me Puke (April 30, 2009)

• Rekindled Affair?

  On August 13, 2008, the National Enquirer ran a story claiming Edwards' affair with Hunter resumed after he confessed the indiscretion to his wife, Elizabeth. The tabloid quotes a source as saying Hunter became pregnant "after the affair was rekindled."National Enquirer: Sex, More Lies and Videotape (August 13, 2008)

• John Edwards Nightline

  In an interview for ABC's Nightline, which aired on August 8, 2008, Edwards admitted that he had an affair with Hunter and lied about the relationship during his presidential campaign. However, Edwards denied that he was the father of Hunter's child, Frances Quinn Hunter, and stated his willingness to take a paternity test. Hunter has declined to participate in DNA testing, citing privacy concerns for herself and her daughter. Hunter made the statement through her lawyer, Robert Gordon, on August 9.ABC News: Edwards Admits Sexual Affair; Lied as Presidential... (August 8, 2008)

• Late Night Visit

  On July 22, 2008, photographers from the National Enquirer reported that they had caught former Senator John Edwards visiting Hunter at the Beverly Hilton hotel on the evening of July 21. According to reports, Hunter had reserved two rooms at the hotel under the name of a friend, with whom she had traveled from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles.

  Sources from the Enquirer say that one of the rooms was for the friend and Hunter's baby, Frances Quinn Hunter, and the other room was meant for Hunter and Edwards.National Enquirer: Senator John Edwards Caught with Mistress and Love Child (July 22, 2008) At 9:45pm, Edwards appeared at the hotel and entered from a side door. At 2:40am, the paper reported that he attempted to sneak out of the hotel.

  Reporters from the Enquirer allegedly emerged and questioned Edwards who immediately ran up the stairs and into a nearby restroom. Security staff later escorted Edwards out of the hotel.National Enquirer: Senator John Edwards Caught with Mistress and Love Child (July 22, 2008)

• Criminal Complaint

  The two National Enquirer reporters, Alan Butterfield and Alexander Hitchen, filed a criminal complaint against the Beverly Hilton saying that, amongst other things, a security guard threatened to break their camera. The two reporters were registered guests at the hotel. Edwards was not.National Enquirer: John Edwards Affair: Criminal Complaint Filed (July 24, 2008)

• Impact of Political Mistresses

  Mistresses and alleged mistresses have played an unwitting role in American politics but the repercussions of extramarital affairs have varied. Some of these relationships have ruined careers, while others have had little effect.

  • Maria Halpin: During his 1884 campaign for president, Grover Cleveland admitted to an extramarital affair and "love child" with shop clerk Halpin. Cleveland won, despite his opponents' attacks over the matter. Career impact: Minor

  • Marilyn Monroe: Monroe is alleged to have been one of many women involved with John F. Kennedy before and during his presidency. These rumors were not widespread until well after Kennedy's 1963 assassination. Career impact: Minor

  • Donna Rice: Colorado Senator Gary Hart's 1988 presidential aspirations were quashed after photos emerged of his tryst with 29-year-old model Rice on a yacht called "Monkey Business." Career impact: Major

  • Monica Lewinsky: Although it became a national obsession, Bill Clinton's dalliances with 21-year-old intern Lewinsky in 1995 did not materially effect his political career. Clinton was formally impeached by Congress, but served out his second term. Career impact: Minor

  • Judith Nathan: While serving as mayor of New York City in the late 1990s, Rudy Giuliani began an affair with Nathan, a pharmaceuticals sales manager in her 40s. The pair later married. The Nathan affair was only one of many aspects of Giuliani's bio reported to have hurt him with conservatives in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries. Career impact: Moderate

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Edwards Enquirer Criminal Complaint | John Edwards Affair | John Edwards Love Child | Andrew Young | John Edwards | Elizabeth Edwards | John Edwards Beverly Hilton | John Edwards Nightline | Frances Quinn Hunter | Marilyn Gavin Rossdale | Deanna Hummel | John Edwards Sex Tape

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