Edwards' Mistress Breaks Silence

One of the photos taken during "GQ" photo shoot. Hunter is with her child, 2-year-old Frances Quinn.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Rielle Hunter, the love interest of former Sen. John Edwards, is speaking out for the first time since news of their affair broke almost two years ago.

Hunter participated in a candid Q and A with “GQ” Magazine, which appears in its April issue. In it, she speaks of the love that she and Edwards — who she calls “Johnny” — still have for one another and challenges accounts of their relationship, especially those given by former aide Andrew Young. Click here for the "GQ" interview.

Hunter said she didn’t feel like she could speak publicly until Edwards admitted that he fathered her child — 2-year-old Frances Quinn. She said she would have “emasculated” him if she did.

“I could have cashed out big,” she told GQ’s Lisa DePaulo in an interview at her Charlotte home. “But that's not what I'm about. I love Johnny and I love my daughter more than anything in the world, and I don't want to ever do anything to hurt them or hurt their relationship.”

Hunter claims that Young — who wrote a tell-all book about Edwards and the affair — came up with the idea to claim paternity of Quinn. She largely discredited his book, “The Politician,” which hit shelves in February.

“I'll say this about Andrew's book: If his grand-jury testimony matches his book, I would suspect that they will be looking at him for many, many counts of perjury,” she said.

She also called Elizabeth Edwards’ recollection in her book “Resilience” of how she found out about the affair was “factually incorrect.” Elizabeth claimed that her husband told her that his affair with Hunter was a one-night stand.

When Elizabeth’s cancer recurred in 2007, shortly after Edwards announced his second presidential bid, Hunter said the decision to continue the campaign was “reckless.” She claims Edwards wanted to drop out, but that Elizabeth insisted that he stay in the race.

Hunter described the Edwards’ marriage as “toxic,” “dysfunctional” and “abusive.”

“And you know, the wrath of Elizabeth is a mighty wrath,” she said.

Hunter describes Edwards as being a “humanitarian,” and as being “very truthful and honest.”

She added that the affair ended in 2008, when news of their relationship broke, and “evolved into something different.”

Many Americans disagree with her characterization of the two-time presidential candidate. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll in December found that Edwards was the most disappointing public figure in 2009, ahead of Tiger Woods.

Edwards grew up in Robbins, located in the northern end of Moore County.

Matt Lauer interviewed DePaulo on NBC’s “Today” this morning. Click here for a video taken from the interview.

Contact John Krahnert III at (910) 693-2473 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.

More like this story

Tex 3 years, 2 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

CSmithson 3 years, 2 months ago

Good thing you didn't use one of the other pictures from the article. If you had, we'd have "Bikini Mom Outrage Part II" on the blogs.

Tom_Embrey 3 years, 2 months ago

@CSmithson Still early. Plenty of time for it to happen.

dogboy 3 years, 2 months ago

I feel a reality show coming up or should I say a Riellety show!!!!!!!!!

Poundman 3 years, 2 months ago

I don't condone adultery but,,, dang Johhny, you did good!!

babiehop 3 years, 2 months ago

Looking into a camera and bold-faced lying is not what I'd call "very truthful and honest" as she put it. He gives credence to the old saying that you can tell when a politician is lying if his lips are moving. How can you further emasculate someone who doesn't have the fortitude to claim their own offspring ?

newstime 3 years, 2 months ago

Thank goodness Johnny & Al Gore didn't win the election several years ago!!

poncho 3 years, 2 months ago

OMG! That child looks just like him!

None 3 years, 2 months ago

I would post but I can't stop laughing at you guys...tears in my eyes!

GeorgiaMan 3 years, 2 months ago

Let us not forget the child who has a liar for a mother and a father - Remember I did not have a affair with that woman - remember I am not the father of that child. That 2 year old will grow up and read all of those comments one day. For her mother to parade her around like a trophy should make everyone sick, and maybe child services will be called in.

MCM101st 3 years, 2 months ago

John Edwards was the Pilot's fair haired boy. They have printed nothing but good about him. Now we have this slut spreading her goods around in magazines and soon on TV. Slut ? You think that's too harsh ? Didn't she screw around with a married man whoes wife has cancer and will soon die ? I find it very funny that she sued friends to get back her photos and videos. Guess she wants to sell them herself and make a buck.

PineMoore 3 years, 2 months ago

John Edwards may be a liar and a cheater, but wait a minute, oh yea, thats what many politicians have been doing for years. Some get away with it while others stumble into getting caught. Anywho, never liked him as a politician, but wow Johnny she is slamming hot. Im sure most of the negative comments on here will be of the female persuasion..lol

KarenH 3 years, 2 months ago

So this is what a bimbo looks like-trash-living in her own little world.Does she see that Edwards has never put her or the little girl ahead of his own wants. I don't feel sorry for the poor stupid woman- if he cheats with you Ms. Hunter, he will cheat on you. Maybe then you will have some small idea what his wife has felt since you decided to cheat with her husband and get yourself pregnant. You are not a teenager who did not know where babies come from, so we must assume that this was your way of "catching" yourself a man-no matter that he was already taken with children and other family obligations. It is not to say that Mr.Edwards is any less responsible for his disgusting moral behavior. Put on your pants Ms. Hunter and try to start showing your daughter a decent example of what a woman should be.

Yukonjohn 3 years, 2 months ago

I went and looked at the pictures of that slut, Rielle Hunter. I am now wondering, are they selling that tape of her and Johnny? I care nothing about him, but she is smoking hot!!!! Yes, expatriate, you are right, Johnny boy has raised the bar for sure!!!

PineMoore 3 years, 2 months ago

See, just like I said, only the females are mad about this photo. HMMMM lol

HeelsHoopFan 3 years, 2 months ago

Why don't you come up with some local reporting about folks from our area, you know the ones we past every day in our streets and byways. I am sure the public record of marriages and divorces posted in "The Pilot" on a regular basis could provide fodder for some interesting stories. I know of several in my own neighborhood that probably could make Messrs. Clinton and Edwards blush.

It amuses me to read an article in the pilot that shows talented journalistic integrity and it gets hardly any notice, but make a comment about Bikini girl or the Edwards "Big Love" situation and everyone starts chiming on command.

Sometimes our priorities are a bit askew. It is fun reading, but do we have to be so crass? Let's hope these folks get on with their lives and like "Tiger" get some help.

debsalomon 3 years, 2 months ago

To all the guys who commented on how Rielle "lost the baby weight" and looks "so hot." Hello...it's called make-up, lighting and, most important, the photoshopping diet. One TV report had the sense to do side-by-side comparisons of La Rielle minus Max Factor and L'Oreal. Certainly the GQ photos are horribly innapropriate, so innapropriate that I wonder why y'all don't just turn away instead of scrutinizing so closely.

NCgirl 3 years, 2 months ago

I feel sorry for the kid. In my opinion, it is in BAD taste to exploit the child like that in GQ or any other publication for that matter! Oooopppsss, I forgot, look at who were talking about here.....this woman obviously makes BAD decisions and has BAD taste.

The only reason she is 'breaking the silence' is to fill up her bank account!

The comment she makes about Edwards being, and I quote: "very truthful and honest", end quote.........Truthful & honest to whom???? What a joke!

Poundman 3 years, 2 months ago

Well it takes two to be honest and truthful to each other, once a hoe always a hoe in my book, both of them,,, and if they can live with it so be it.

I guess i don't feel sorry for the kid, I feel more sorry for medicaid or welfare babies, poor children who will not have much help in life. Their child will have a financial advantage greater than 99.5% of us as and I am pretty sure will have a loving parent, greater than a lot of welfare babies.

On to Tiger. Tiger made one mistake in his whole deal. He should have told his potential wife that I will love you, take care of you and our child forever but since I am a gaziillionaire and have women lined up waiting to boff me I will do what any other thirty year old man wants to do, boff them and shoot for Wilt the Stilts record. Me thinks women would have lined up for this deal, heck I would have if I was the opposite sex.

poncho 3 years, 2 months ago

OMG! OMG!! OMG!!!! Toda, Expatriate...did u read that? Just how the hell does a woman "GET HERSELF PREGNANT? " Quote from KarenH ......."Maybe then you will have some small idea what his wife has felt since you decided to cheat with her husband and get yourself pregnant." lol lmao Hey, as the old saying goes "it takes 2 to tango." Am I right? So they screwed around and got caught, so what and who cares, I don't. His wife was probably glad the broad was doing him so she wouldn 't be bothered, am I right? HUH HUH, am I right???