Ex-Aide Claims John Edwards Father of Mistress' Baby

Andrew Young, who once claimed paternity of the child of John Edwards' mistress Rielle Hunter, now says in a book proposal that the former presidential candidate is the baby's father, the New York Times reported on Saturday. The book goes further, according to the NYT, making statements that could only be termed ugly, at best.

Andrew Young once signed an affidavit asserting that he was the father of Rielle Hunter’s child. However, he has since renounced that statement. He told publishers, in a book proposal that the NYT has examined, that not only did Edwards know all along that he was the child’s father, he pleaded with Young to accept responsibility for the baby, saying that would reduce the extent of the scandal.

Additionally, the proposal states that Young helped Edwards in his infidelity by setting up meetings between Hunter, who was a videographer during Edwards' presidential campaign, and Edwards. Young also noted that Edwards asked a lawyer if he knew of a doctor who would falsify a DNA report.

Worse for Edwards reputation, according to Young, Edwards once told Hunter that he would marry her in a rooftop ceremony in New York, with the Dave Matthews Band in attendance, once Edwards' wife Elizabeth died. His wife has cancer, you may recall.

Further, at this time a federal grand jury in Raleigh, NC is investigating whether any crimes were committed in connection with campaign laws in an effort to conceal John Edwards' affair with Hunter. It's been rumored for some time that Edwards is moving toward the declaration of paternity of Hunter's 19-month-old daughter.

In the past, he flatly asserted in a television interview that paternity was not possible. Edwards indicated that the brevity and timing of the relationship was such that there was no way the baby was his.

The walls are rapidly closing in on John Edwards, however. His political career seems over, and if the distance between himself and his wife at the occasion of Ted Kennedy's funeral is any indication, so is his marriage, except for public appearances that is. It appears the climax to this scandal is coming soon.