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The former Democratic presidential candidate admitted in a statement on Thursday that he is the father of Frances Quinn Hunter, the 2-year-old daughter of his former mistress, Rielle Hunter. Edwards has been denying it ever since the National Enquirer reported Edwards' tie to the child almost two years ago. He then was caught leaving Hunter's room at the Beverly Hilton, and the lie began to unravel. A book by Andrew Young, the aide who originally took responsibility for the child, is expected to blow away any vestiges of Edwards' former reputation when it comes out soon.
Not that Edwards has much dignity after a great story in this week's New York magazine by authors John Heilemann and Mark Halperin that details the affair with Hunter, who's from Los Angeles, and her intrusive presence during the campaign. The affair and Edwards' denials to them led many of his aides to realize, mid-campaign, that he was not presidential material.
Previously at LA Observed:
John Edwards love child
Times bloggers told not to mention Edwards story
She knew Rielle Hunter back when