Edwards admits he fathered videographer’s child

Former North Carolina Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has finally come forward to admit that he fathered a child with a videographer that he hired before his second White House bid.

Edwards confirmed this in a statement released to The Associated Press Thursday, after initially denying that he’d fathered a child during his affair with the videographer, Reille Hunter.

“I am Quinn’s father,” Edwards, who owns a home on Figure 8 Island and has been seen in the Wilmington area recently, declared in his statement, as the second birthday of Frances Quinn Hunter approaches.

A former Edwards aide, Andrew Young, initially claimed paternity of the child shortly before the 2008 presidential primary contests began. Young is scheduled to release a book on Feb. 2 that details the scandal.

Rielle Hunter’s lawyer says it’s “good for everyone” that Edwards has admitted he fathered a child with the woman. New Jersey-based lawyer Michael Critchley says Edwards’
confession amounted a public acknowledgment of something that was known privately. He said Hunter did not have an immediate comment.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story)