National Enquirer: Edwards story came from credible tip
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/08/09/lkl.edwards.affair/art.davidperel.cnn.jpg caption="National Enquirer editor-in-chief David Perel says the tabloid broke news of John Edwards' affair in 2007."]
(CNN) - Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards admitted Friday to having an extramarital affair in 2006 with a woman who worked on his campaign.
Edwards has denied being the father of the woman's child, as had been alleged in tabloid reports, and it is willing to take a paternity test.
Wolf Blitzer, filling in for Larry King, spoke with David Perel, editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer, who originally broke the story in October 2007. Blitzer also spoke with Alan Butterfield, a senior reporter for the National Enquirer who confronted John Edwards at a hotel in Beverly Hills on Thursday.
Some highlights:
Wolf Blitzer: What got you guys going in this direction to begin with?
David Perel: We received what we thought was a credible tip, Wolf, and we started investigating it. A lot of times when we go down this road and the story turns out not to be true, we abandon it. But the more we dug in, the more information The Enquirer uncovered that was standing up, we were able to prove that, indeed, John Edwards had a sexual affair with Rielle Hunter. We first did the story in October without naming her and then we came back with a much tougher story in December 2007, where we not only named her, but we photographed her pregnant.
Watch: Perel discusses Edwards' 'character issue'
Blitzer: And at that time, you didn't report that - what you reported subsequently, that you thought that he was the father.
Perel: That's true. We know that Rielle believes that he is the father. And Mr. Edwards today, in his own statement, said he did not take a paternity test. He's now saying that he will take one. We've asked him for months if he would take one and he's ignored that request.
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Why doesn't CNN publicize McCain's affairs or ask him about them directly? Seems like biased reporting to me.
Wonder what the personal life of these reporters are? Why don't reporters report on the sordid love affair of john mccain and cindy?
This is a no brainer as Edwards was not going to be on the vp ticket as a lot of people may have thought. So the purpose of all of this is what?
What will his speach be about in the DNC convention?
How I screwed my mistress, my wife and country... the latter one is for supporting Obama!
NoBama 08
Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while, eh?!
No wonder Edwards did not want to be considered for V.P. he would have derailed the Obama train....good looking out on his part...at least he's not selfish in that respect.
Obama best watch out for his EGO it might get him into big trouble. John Edwards knows about EGO. Obama acts as if he is, THE ONE. I cannot believe the DNC (Dumb Nuts Committee) and their choice for the nominee. I received a donation request from them, and I sent it back with a notation, No money/No vote. Main reason, Kennedy, Kerry, Dean, and Pelosi..I hope they can't pay for the football stadium Obama wants to pat himself on the back. His Presidential Seal was the biggest turn off for this voter. I am beginning to believe he is the Anti-Christ, nothing else explains his popularity. I mean really, what on his resume, qualifies him for the job of POTUS?
Now if we could only get Obama to fess up to his "down low" escapades.
Goodbye and good riddance Mr. Edwards!
too bad these media *vulchers* would not leave him alone and his family
Its so pathetic what media sensationalism has morphed into bc of peoples sick curiosity
anyone who buys this crap is no better than the vultures who edit it!!
The man made a human mistake ...he did NOT kill anyone !steal anything! and regardless of what any of us say or think his own conscience will eat him up without our judgement!
What parasites. Not saying I condone what Edwards did, but he is human; of course he would deny it, risking losing his family. Grow up people.
Leave the man alone. He admitted it so what. The blame should also be on the woman. It does take two to tango.
How many people in everyday life have extra marital affairs. It's not right but that is a private matter.
Where is the story about John McCain's infidelity to the wife he was unfaithful to when she was ill and left her for Cindy. If the news is going to talk about Edwards then expose McCain on his lack of morality.
CNN are you running a TABLOID .. there's so much more important things going on but the MSM is still stuck on this Story .. what about the Olympics, Russia/Georgia War ??
Everybody including the Enquirer should just mind their own business and leave the family alone.
Why is it that people like to destroy other people for money?
this is why we should have a female president. No extramarital affairs. Women are caretakers mostly.
I feel sorry for the Edwards family. I also can not help but remember that John McCain also had adulterous affiars, cheating on his wife while she was in long term recovery from a debillitating accident.
Are these the best Americans we have to offer for the Office of President of our United States?
This tells me the MSM cant do its job any longer or doesnt want to.I dont have any faith in any of them,since its obvious their owners have abandoned the truth.I guess the days of Walter Cronkite and other credible men are long gone.What a shame.
Who really cares??? I guess the media does so they can play this over and over and over!!!!! This is a private matter and it should of stayed a private matter....He didn't commit a felony, he made a mistake and I'm sure the media won't let him forget it either....ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My thoughts and prayers to the Edwards family....especially the little children.....
I am truly surprised that John Edwards was having an affair because
certainly this would have messed up his hair.
Oh god. More soap opera distractions for American Idol mentality idiots to gossip about while the world crumbles around us. Who cares!? This is a personal matter between Edwards and his wife.
At least it was with a woman (hello Haggarty, Craig, Foley, etc.)
YE WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE. PEOPLE.
Okay, John Edwards had an affair. Lots of political figures have had affairs. Anderson Cooper had a story highlighting some of the more infamous political affairs on Friday evening's program. What makes this one so bad is that Edwards did this while Elizabeth was battling her cancer. People can overlook the affair but it was the fact that he was cheating on his wife while she was fighting for her life; that makes it so much worse. His rising star in the party has not just dropped, it has completely vanished from the Democratic universe. John should just give up any hope of ever doing anything other than voting as a democrat. Thanks to the Enquirer for sticking with this story and forcing Edwards to finally admit to his wrongdoing.
"LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE".
Is CNN sinking to the level of National Enquirer?
I enjoyed the story segment last night Wolf. And I too have to wonder why John Edwards would meet with Rielle at at Hotel miles away in the wee hours of the morning? And what about the picture of him with the baby? What is that about? I don't feel it is really my business to know but, you brought it up and now I'm curious! 🙂