Following the National Enquirer's investigation into John Edwards has been quite an experience. Lies, media bias, denial and accusations were exposed like a badly written novel. It continues today with Hunter's family demanding DNA tests.
I reported about the media's refusal to investigate, their emails to media bloggers "requesting" them to not cover the issue, John Edward's denials and calling the story "tabloid trash" while claiming it was untrue, Edward's supporters at Daily Kos banning their own writer for daring to mention it and a money trail showing that Edward's backers and friends were paying to have his mistress, Rielle Hunter, relocated.
Fox News, for all the criticisms leveled against them, did stand up and actually investigated and found what no other media outlet would even attempt to look for when they interviewed one of the security guards that helped escort Edwards from the restroom and kept reporters away from him.
Kudos to them for keeping their eye on the ball.
To my mother, may she rest in peace, I apologize for all the times I teased you mercilessly for picking up the Enquirer every week.
Yesterday John Edwards admitted that the affair with Rielle Hunter, which the National Enquirer reported about last October, was true, despite his denials to the contrary for all the months between then and now.
ABC News' Bob Woodruff conducted an interview with Edwards, which aired last night and the full transcript can be found here.
Both Edwards and his wife Elizabeth provided statements to the press, which I added as updates to yesterdays pieces. (Listed as previous related posts at the bottom of this post)
Today ABC News reports that the saga has not ended because during the interview Edwards admitted the affair, but denied that he was the father of Hunter's baby which was born in February of this year.
In Edward's statement, he did say "I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established."
To that end, Hunter's her younger sister Melissa told ABC News that people should "stop bad-mouthing" her sister and she goes on to challenge Edwards to keep his pledge and have the DNA tests done.
In the first reaction from Hunter's family, her younger sister Melissa told ABC News that Edwards should immediately follow through on his pledge to take a paternity test.
"I would challenge him to do so," the sister said.
"Somebody must stand up and defend my sister," she said. "I wish that those involved would refrain from bad-mouthing my sister."
In his interview Edwards claims that he only met with Hunter at the Beverly Hilton hotel to try "to keep this from becoming public."
He also admitted that the latest meeting which the National Enquirer exposed was not the only contact he had with Hunter and that they had "other telephone" contacts.
He also admits that he had not told his wife of the meeting with Hunter prior to going to the hotel.
Hunter had been hired by John Edwards to produce Web documentaries for the Edwards campaign, at a cost of $114,000. Those were called "Plane Truths", video found here.
There are only two possibilities here, he either is or is not the father of Frances Quinn.
If he is not, the DNA tests would confirm it fast and put an end to this saga once and for all.
His wording, via ABC News, regarding the DNA test, was "I would welcome participating in a paternity test. I'm only one side of the test, but I'm happy to participate in one."
That suggests that he is willing to participate, but leaves open the question of whether Hunter will.
If he is, then people would wonder why he came clean about the affair but refused to acknowledge the baby.
The timing would explain that because if the baby is his, then that would mean, from the timing of the birth, that John Edwards had continued the affair, even after his wife was re-diagnosed with cancer.
For the sake of Edwards, his wife Elizabeth, his children and his loyal supporters and friends, Edwards should insist on the DNA test to put this saga to bed once and for all and let the chips fall where they may.
If he is not the father, and his willingness to take the test suggests he may not be, then he can, at least, prove that much of the National Enquirer story wrong.
Previous pieces:
John Edwards Video Speaking To Mistress, Rielle Hunter for 'Plane Truths'; Elizabeth Edwards' Statement Added
John Edwards Admits To Sexual Affair Reported By National Enquirer; Updated with Edwards' Statement and Reactions
National Enquirer Publishes Spy Photos of John Edwards and Alleged Love Child
Bloggasm, LA Times Blog Editor, National Enquirer and John Edwards
Fox Confirms Portion of National Enquirer Story About John Edwards Meeting Mistress
LA Times 'Asks' Their Bloggers To Not Report On National Enquirer's John Edwards Story:
Update- Fox Interviews Hotel Security, Verifies Enquirer Story
John Edwards Caught Meeting His Lover
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