'I'm no gold-digger' says John Edwards' mistress
Rielle Hunter breaks her silence about affair with presidential candidate
Tuesday 16 March 2010
Related articles
-
Vice Presidential Debate's No. 1 Rule: If chatter's about Biden and Ryan, they're doing it wrong
-
Shafilea Ahmed’s father denies murder after wife changes story
-
I've got a love child, admits senator Pete Domenici who tried to get Bill Clinton impeached
-
John Edwards walks free: judge rules mistrial in case of the ex-senator's sex scandal
Their eyes met across a crowded room. "You're so hot!" she said. "Why thank you!" he replied. One thing led to another, and a few hours later, the 42-year-old divorcee was waking up with one of America's best-known politicians. "You know what?" he gently whispered. "Falling in love with you could really fuck up my plans for becoming President!"
On that count, John Edwards wasn't wrong. Four years, one love-child, and thousands of column inches after their chance encounter at a New York hotel, the former Senator's mistress, Rielle Hunter, has broken her silence about the affair which ended his marriage and once-stellar political career.
In a lengthy interview with GQ magazine, Ms Hunter has given a blow-by-blow account of their relationship, describing both the "magnetic force field" that initially drew them together, and the various "errors in judgement" that Mr Edwards made after newspapers discovered that he was the father of her two-year-old daughter, Quinn.
"I know he loves me. I have never had any doubt at all about that," she said. "That hasn't changed, and I believe that will be till death do us part."
Ms Hunter hadn't previously shared her version of events. But that silence certainly wasn't prompted by shyness: in one glossy photograph accompanying the GQ piece, she lies in bed holding her daughter and exposing her midriff. In another, she sits cross-legged, wearing a white shirt and a pair of knickers.
Elsewhere in the interview, Ms Hunter reveals that she calls Mr Edwards "Johnny," that she wears size two jeans and Ugg boots, and lives in a house near the ex-Senator in North Carolina rented for $1,500 a month. She feeds their infant daughter sushi, dabbles in astrology, and wants readers to know that "I'm not a gold-digger, I'm not the stalker."
That may come as news to Mr Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, who was suffering from terminal cancer when she discovered her husband's affair.
When Mr Edwards decided to run for President, two years into their fling, Ms Hunter attempted to dissuade him. Looking back on his initial decision to deny both the affair and then paternity of Quinn, Ms Hunter said: "Most of his mistakes or errors in judgement were because of his fear of the wrath of Elizabeth ... he was emasculated."
The nature of Ms Hunter's current relationship with Mr Edwards, who recently announced that he was finally separating from Elizabeth, is left unclear.
Whatever happens, the scandal will continue to make headlines. Mr Edwards may soon face prosecution from investigators examining payments of $100,000 from his political action committee made to Ms Hunter, in a possible breach of campaign finance rules. She denies the payments were "hush money".
-
World news in pictures
-
Far-right French historian, 78-year-old Dominique Venner, commits suicide in Notre Dame in protest against gay marriage
-
Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men
-
Oklahoma tornado latest: Obama pledges support for 'as long as it takes' to rebuild the suburb of Moore
-
Video emerges of Pope Francis reportedly performing an exorcism
- 1 Gay couple beaten in park urge MPs to moderate language on gay marriage
- 2 Swedes set up 'ultimate Viking movie'
- 3 After woman sells virginity for $780,000, here are the results of our prostitution survey
- 4 Far-right French historian, 78-year-old Dominique Venner, commits suicide in Notre Dame in protest against gay marriage
- 5 'It was just like the movie Twister': Man survives Oklahoma tornado by taking refuge in horse stall
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
iJobs General
Senior IP Associate / Partner - Manchester
Excellent Salary Package - £60K to £120K: Austen Lloyd: We have an exciting op...
Java Developer
£200 - £250 per day: Progressive Recruitment: Java Developer - Urgent Requirem...
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ARCHITECT, SAP
£70000 - £95000 per annum + Bonus, flexible working hours, remote work: Progre...
SAP BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE SENIOR CONSULTANT
£50000 - £56000 per annum + Benefits package, flexible working hours: Progress...
Day In a Page
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’
Why clubs are keen to take a stand







Comments