Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards admitted to an extra-marital affair Friday. ABC News’s “Nightline” will air the exclusive interview tonight.
In the interview, Edwards says he lied repeatedly about the affair with a 44-year-old woman while his wife struggled with cancer. He denied he is the father of the woman’s child as reported by The National Enquirer, which broke the story.
[ad#in-post]
The woman, Rielle Hunter, had run a firm that directed four Web videos for Edwards’s political action committee in 2006. Hunter had a daughter on Feb. 26, 2008. She did not put a father’s name on the birth certificate filed in California, according to the Associated Press. Andrew Young, an aide to Edwards, has claimed to be the father.
Edwards came in second in the Iowa caucus behind Barack Obama and ahead of Hillary Clinton. He withdrew his candidacy in January after finishing third in the South Carolina primary, and he endorsed Obama in May.
The former North Carolina senator and his wife, Elizabeth, used his presidential platform to become champions for the working-class with his anti-poverty agenda and support for universal health care.
Edwards was the party’s 2004 nominee for vice-president. Elizabeth announced she had breast cancer in November 2004, shortly after John Kerry lost to President Bush. In a joint press conference in March 2007, the Edwards announced her cancer had returned and spread to her bones. It is treatable, but not curable.
Elizabeth Edwards’ public struggles often placed her in the spotlight along with her husband, where she is a prominent advocate for health care reform.
The admission of the affair throws in to question what role, if any, the two will play during the Democratic convention in Denver later this month. According to Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic, Elizabeth is scheduled for a prime-time speaking slot.
David Bonior, Edwards’ campaign manager, told the Associated Press on Friday that he was disappointed and angry after hearing about Edwards’ confession.
“Thousands of friends of the senators and his supporters have put their faith and confidence in him and he’s let him down,” said Bonior. “They’ve been betrayed by his action.”
Asked whether the affair would damage Edwards’ future aspirations in public service, Bonior replied: “You can’t lie in politics and expect to have people’s confidence.”
Source: WSJ.com