Edwards facing federal probe for using campaign money to pay off mistress
posted at 9:29 am on May 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
There are two Americas after all. In one, people pay off mistresses with their own money, while in the other, the very wealthy ironically use other people’s money to do it. Federal investigators have begun probing John Edwards’ campaign records to see whether he broke the law in paying off Rielle Hunter, the mistress and apparently the mother of his youngest child:
John Edwards marched toward the White House in 2006 seeking an arsenal of millions collected a little at a time.
He also gathered more ammunition, about $11 million, collected in larger chunks by nonprofit groups conceived and operated to further his aspirations. He also courted a girlfriend.
Federal investigators are trying to connect those dots, sifting through Edwards’ financial records to probe whether he used any donations solicited for his campaign to keep quiet his affair with Rielle Hunter. …
Records show that Hunter was paid by a political action committee aligned with Edwards. She received $114,000 to film Edwards as he hopscotched the nation to rally crowds in the fight against poverty. She followed him to Uganda, where he met with starving children orphaned by attacks by rebel forces. Her “webisodes” live still on the Internet.
The investigation is being conducted by the office of U.S. Attorney George Holding, and a federal grand jury could consider evidence.
Over the last few years, Edwards helped promote political populism, but he was always an unlikely banner-carrier for that effort. He make hundreds of millions of dollars for himself first as a personal-injury lawyer, and then later working for a hedge fund, one of the big class-warfare targets of the Left. He railed about “two Americas” while he built a 28,000-square-foot mansion for himself. And he preached about universal health care, exploiting his wife’s illness on the campaign trail, while betraying her with one of his aides.
His wife Elizabeth continues to fight cancer, and in her memoir recalls that she threw up when Edwards told her of his betrayal — and predictably lied about the extent of the affair. The rest of Edwards’ supporters should be throwing up as well, if the investigation concludes that Edwards paid off Hunter with campaign funds. The rest of us found ambulance-chasing populism nauseating from the beginning.
Blowback
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Yeah, but his daddy worked very hard down at the mill.
carbon_footprint on May 4, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Can I comb my hair before you arrest me?
Mr. Joe on May 4, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Did I mention my daddy worked very hard down at the mill?
Mr. Joe on May 4, 2009 at 9:34 AM
If we had only elected him Veep, Christopher Reeve would not have died.
BigD on May 4, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Please do not arrest me, think of what it would do to my sick wife.
Mr. Joe on May 4, 2009 at 9:34 AM
I wonder if THIS will finally get all of those idiots still riding around with “Kerry-Edwards” bumper stickers on their Suburus and Priuses to remove them…
D2Boston on May 4, 2009 at 9:35 AM
….daddy……..mill….
Darksean on May 4, 2009 at 9:35 AM
“There are two Americas. One where rich hosebags can pay their mistresses to keep quiet about the bastard fruit of their adultery, and another where…”
Akzed on May 4, 2009 at 9:35 AM
If you had only elected him veep, Arlen Specter would have died and Jack Kemp would have lived.
No not really, but that is in response to Specter today.
Mr. Joe on May 4, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Unfortunately, I no longer trust the U.S. Gov’t.
Edward’s guilt or innocence will be irrelevant to the outcome. If he is in someone’s political crosshairs, he will be hurt, otherwise he will be saved.
I have never thought or said anything like the above until this election. There’s a tragedy unfolding, and it has nothing to do with Edwards.
JiangxiDad on May 4, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Please do not arrest me, I have a little baby who needs shoes and milk?
and a sick wife…
and my father worked hard in the mill…
and I need to comb my hair.
Mr. Joe on May 4, 2009 at 9:37 AM
I am so glad this filth never won a position in the WH. Too bad his well deserved fate didn’t happen to a couple other pieces of filth.
ORconservative on May 4, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Hee.. When Jaques Francois Kerry thinks that you are disgusting that should be a wakeup call to you.
Illinidiva on May 4, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Pfffft. Investigating a politician whose spotlight has gone dim is necessary, but how about also investigating the rest of the demorats who are still in office and reaping all sorts of questionable benefits.
Eddy is the focus because he doesn’t matter to the ‘rats any longer; put Rangel under the same scrutiny and you would probably find things just as bad if not worse.
Bishop on May 4, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Don’t forget the awning ads that are played on cable TV.
BuckeyeSam on May 4, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I wish he had won instead of who did. All Edwards wanted was money and sex. We could have survived that.
JiangxiDad on May 4, 2009 at 9:38 AM
John Edwards’ two Americas — One with a campaign slush fund to pay off mistresses, and one without.
jon1979 on May 4, 2009 at 9:39 AM
replace the (D) with a (R) and watch the ratings grow!
thebrokenrattle on May 4, 2009 at 9:39 AM
You’d think a guy with that much money could have bought himself a more attractive mistress.
AZCoyote on May 4, 2009 at 9:39 AM
This will go as far as the probe into Jessuh Jackson sending 501c3 cash to his mistress.
jgapinoy on May 4, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Ha! What a joke. I guess they don’t know about ACORN getting Obama’s maxed-out donor list to get them to give more money via scam. The pea is over here – now it’s over here – look over here now…
marklmail on May 4, 2009 at 9:40 AM
So this is what they mean when Liberals say that they are more loving than Conservatives…
kingsjester on May 4, 2009 at 9:40 AM
I’m shocked, SHOCKED the dude turned out to be a lying, adulterous douchebag. He seemed so genuine on the campaign trail, plus he could channel the thoughts of babies with cerebral palsy or something during his trial lawyering days. Who knew he was a sleazebag?
changer1701 on May 4, 2009 at 9:41 AM
its a damn shame he didn’t win Dem nomination
jp on May 4, 2009 at 9:41 AM
One more thing, this guy is why no one should trust politicians.
If the National Enquirer had not broken the story that the MSM did so much to cover up, we likely would have Edwards somewhere near the WH until at least 2012.
It is too bad that they only reported on the Breck girl. They could have done America a great favor by including a few move truths about a few more politicians. Obviously reading tabloid covers in grocery lines is still how Americans get their news.
ORconservative on May 4, 2009 at 9:41 AM
AAAAHAHAHHAHAJAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Two Americas
Those who lie and those who do not.
blatantblue on May 4, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Yes, we know. We’re trying to laugh, anyway.
Kind of reminds me of the morning of 911. I was at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City for a conference. The attacks happened, and by 10:30 a.m. most of the people in the hotel were down in the bar. What else were we supposed to do?
Nice to see you, JiangxiDad.
BigD on May 4, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Bishop on May 4, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Agreed. It should be priority to investigate those currently “serving”.
bridgetown on May 4, 2009 at 9:45 AM
i agree with Bishop & Bridgetown. sure, Edwards is dirty. I really wonder if anyone could get to be a US Senator without something slimy going on in their past or campaign.
BUT let’s investigate the ones in the WH or Congress first. this is just to distract us. this is just to make the right feel better.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 9:47 AM
What about the fund raiser who mysteriously died in the middle of the scandal? You know, the Texas trial lawyer who was funneling funds to Rielle? Did they ever find anything else about his death after this?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,445507,00.html
OT but what about the guy from Freddie Mac who just mysteriously died in the midst of an investigation. I didn’t even read about the cause of his death being mentioned.
Politics is dangerous to your health.
rishika on May 4, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Two Americas; those who can afford to cheat on their ill wife and have children with their mistress and those who can’t.
I remind my significant other that he has too much money and yet not enough money to divorce me. Besides, I’d kill him for less than Edwards did to Elizabeth.
bopbottle on May 4, 2009 at 9:48 AM
yeah, what did those people die of/from?
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Do not give up hope. We the people solemnly swear to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America so help us God.
publiuspen on May 4, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Speaking of investigating those ‘serving’, how about random drug testing for ALL members of congress. Let’s start with Bawney.
“Here Mr. Fwank, take this cup into the bathroom and bring out a urine specimen.”
Heck, add Joe Biden into that test group.
All in favor?
rishika on May 4, 2009 at 9:54 AM
nah. joe biden isn’t taking illegal drugs. he’s just that way naturally. or maybe the 2 brain anuerysms did it to him.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Even if found guilty of siphoning off funds to pay his whore, Edwards will only get a slap on the wrist. To do otherwise would be to open the door for real penalties for politicians who do the same sort of thing every single day of the year.
highhopes on May 4, 2009 at 9:57 AM
It’s the Botox kelley.
blatantblue on May 4, 2009 at 9:58 AM
The bad thing is, this is a country being run by a party who also sees “Two Americas” and will do whatever they like to alter it as they see fit.
The Prell girl may have not have really believed his own populist tripe, he was a slick politician after all, but Ogabe does and he will sacrifice any and all to see the nation reformed to his vision.
Bishop on May 4, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Yea, I have all the confidence in the world that government officials who mishandle campaign funds will be prosecuted. snort.
scalleywag on May 4, 2009 at 10:00 AM
botox makes you crazy? really? so that’s what’s wrong with nancy pelosi? she doesn’t sound quite so stupid.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I wish Biden was on drugs. A logical explanation would make him easier to take.
ORconservative on May 4, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Who’d he piss off?!
Let’s hope the feds are equally aggressive as they investigate the mocha-liscious, banished to Martinique, Obama mistress, Vera Baker too.
Safe for work, will make your girlfreind slap you in the back of the head if she walks by as you drool onto our keyboard.
Alden Pyle on May 4, 2009 at 10:00 AM
This is the part I don’t get. Other than the purely political marriage of the Clintons, which gives Bill the moral authority to be a chubby chaser, why do these political wives stand by their cheating husbands. Why do they show up at the press conferences when the scandal becomes public? If I were Elizabeth Edwards, I wouldn’t be throwing up when I found out that John Edwards had a bastard child; I’d be figuring out how to put a divorce attorney on speed dial and changing the locks on the family compound.
highhopes on May 4, 2009 at 10:01 AM
They’ll never investigate Vera Baker.
ORconservative on May 4, 2009 at 10:02 AM
yeah, why is edwards being investigated? to throw the right wing some red meat? to show the nation that dems, too, are investigated? is he the sacrificial lamb?
the feds will never investigate vera baker. michelle, my belle, has that issue well in hand.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 10:03 AM
of course, if this troll had not entered the race, we would have President Hillary now…..
Yes, I have hit rock bottom wishing for “only” having to deal with another Clinton versus a Hugo Chavez wanna-be!
SDarchitect on May 4, 2009 at 10:03 AM
How many America’s are there again, John Boy?
kens on May 4, 2009 at 10:03 AM
BINGO.
scalleywag on May 4, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Ahahaa…
oh gosh…as if the 500 dollar haircuts weren’t a dead-wife-danny giveaway.
BillaryMcBush on May 4, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Exactly. I’ll never understand the Elizabeth Edwards role in this.
Hillary, otoh, you can understand, she is too stupid to get anywhere without Bill. Just look at her SoS performance thus far.
ORconservative on May 4, 2009 at 10:04 AM
what sort of example do you set for your children if you tolerate blatant & continued adultery? how does “standing by your man” help those little Edwards children? (the legitimate ones?)
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I just wonder if Silky would have stood by his wife had she publicly humiliated him by having an affair with some young stud, gotten herself pregnant, and then used the family coffers to keep him quiet about it?
scalleywag on May 4, 2009 at 10:07 AM
ok, i’ll answer my own question since no one else will. it is all about the money. dividing money between spouses reduces the total pot.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Too bad he didn’t get elected, this would set a nice trend of Democrat whoremongers in the oval office…not to mention the fun and games of watching him dance around this issue at the, undoubtably fewer than Hussein, “pressers”.
Alden Pyle on May 4, 2009 at 10:08 AM
maybe elizabeth edwards needs john for the health insurance. see, they are the average American couple.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Guilty.
JammieWearingFool on May 4, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Because once divorced, she no longer is invited to the “parties”.
She is who she is because she is married to a powerful man.
There are less then 100 wives of senators, one of the most prestigious positions in the world.
Huge influence, every part of her life is catered, finest hospital care, best dining, she can do what Hillary did, just make it an arrangement of convenience. It is no longer a “marriage”, but why give up the best life in the world? She can do what she wants, let him try to divorce her.
right2bright on May 4, 2009 at 10:09 AM
scalleywag, only if Elizabeth’s dad worked hard in the mills.
Plus her hair is all a mess from chemo and Silky can have done of that.
Mr. Joe on May 4, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Nope, they have plenty of money, it is about power and influence. P & I that no amount of money can buy.
right2bright on May 4, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I doubt it was money…Mrs. Edwards could have afforded a high class attorney who would have raked Silky over the coals over this. She probably would have gotten pretty much anything she wanted. Maybe she was waiting for the investigation and the proof. Not like he was going to tell her the truth about any of this.
scalleywag on May 4, 2009 at 10:10 AM
but right2bright, if i had terminal cancer, i might see the whole “marriage of convenience” issue differently. but then again, i might feel i needed him even more.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Could someone please explain to me the difference between what Edwards is accused of doing and Obama using over $700k of campaign money to pay his army of lawyers to avoid having to release his Birth Certificate? This legal expenditure was before he was in the Whitehouse, so he’s not protected or entitled. How is it possible that this has been overlooked?
Syd B. on May 4, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Obama will never be investigated for anything. Ever.
scalleywag on May 4, 2009 at 10:14 AM
syd b: no real difference, but edwards is not the Won.
besides, illegitimate children are juicier than constitutional ineligibility.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 10:14 AM
scalleywag, you are right on.
and with that, gotta take my cat to the vet.
kelley in virginia on May 4, 2009 at 10:15 AM
I can just see him and Blago as cell mates now.
They will constantly be fighting over the hair spray and the mirror.
Rocks on May 4, 2009 at 10:18 AM
There are two nitwit, former Edwards aides I often see quoted on TV: Jennifer Palmieri and some guy named Chris something (I think it’s a Greek surname). These two, and any others who were close to Edwards and were either too stupid to support him blindly or too cynical to enable him, should be identified, highlighted, and thoroughly ridiculed. Their positions on any public policy matter should be completely disregarded.
Shortly after the Edwards story broke open last summer, I saw Palmieri get interviewed as “a former Edwards adviser,” and she looked to be fighting back tears. She has zero credibility for backing this fool–and she should pay for it.
BuckeyeSam on May 4, 2009 at 10:18 AM
There is no difference between what they’ve done. The difference is who is backing them. The Won has backers who need him in his current position and will do anything and pay anything to keep him there.
He is high priced teflon, Edwards is just the wannabe.
ORconservative on May 4, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Let’s make it a four-man with two 6’5″, 300 lb roommates who will introduce Edwards and Blago to another America.
BuckeyeSam on May 4, 2009 at 10:21 AM
ssshhhhh.. the people are sleeping.
Edwards shouldn’t have attacked the Clintons…
popularpeoplesfront on May 4, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Can we ever run this picture too much? Naw.
Alden Pyle on May 4, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Yeah, I get that. I’ve thought about being a Brit during the war. You’re being bombed, but you shouldn’t give up hope or give up life or even have fun when you can. But that’s because behind the scenes, you’re actively fighting back. Now it seems we’re only approaching that stage, maybe.
You know, that is wonderful. I know you military guys have this in your heart. It’s the rest of us for whom those were just words to hear in school. Your comment is like the Declaration of Independence, the ethical justification for the rebellion that was to follow. You’re right. We have a duty and an ethical rationale for fighting back should it finally come to that. Thanks for reminding me of what I should have known.
JiangxiDad on May 4, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I think I’ll put that on my sign for the next tea party instead of something snarky about Barry. I’ll put ur name under it for attribution :)
JiangxiDad on May 4, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Ahh, Edwards getting slapped around is a good thing. Makes my day start off right seeing this report.
Compare and contrast the anal exam that the MSM gave Edwards, a no-term Senator with zero foreign policy experience, versus that they gave to Palin, a former mayor and sitting governor with limited foreign policy experience. Somehow, Edwards was deemed a great choice for Veep while Palin was a horror show. Hmm. It’s almost like there was something else going on in the MSM’s reaction to each candidate, something to do with the capital letter listed after his or her name rather than actual experience and qualifications.
Physics Geek on May 4, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Yo daddy didn’t work at the mill. If he actually worked at the coal mine, this is justice.
The liberal definition of justice is getting revenge.
The ordinary meaning of justice is punishment for lawbreaking.
seven on May 4, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Burn, baby burn.
I love it when a Democrat goes down in flames.
If only it would happen to one who is a little more significant at this point in time.
UltimateBob on May 4, 2009 at 10:47 AM
One good probe deserves another.
faraway on May 4, 2009 at 10:48 AM
looks like we have two candidates today for cancer awareness
stormin1961 on May 4, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Yes, the “cancer card” makes it more complicated. And more “disruptions” and anxiety is not what she is looking for.
I was speaking more from “why does a wife stick it out with a creep” angle.
I think we underestimate the power and influence these 100 women have.
In each state there are only two spouses, only two, they are married to such power.
If you want your car fixed, it is fixed, if you want your kid in a particular school, they are in. If you want seats to a concert, ball game, opera, whatever, you get it with just a nod.
Every major event in your state, you are only one of possibly two people that garner such attention. Only the gov. can approach, and they don’t have the federal influence.
Most gov. long to be a senator, not the other way around.
So the wife a a senator is a privilege that money can’t buy. I can’t see any wife giving that up, they would give up on the “marriage”, the relationship, but not the prestige…and why should she. It would allow him to continue to do what he wants, to pander. This way he is the one stuck, and she still has what she wants.
right2bright on May 4, 2009 at 10:53 AM
If he were a Republican, we’d be hearing about him a lot more often.
CP on May 4, 2009 at 10:58 AM
In: Unicorns, Out: Silky ponies
Christien on May 4, 2009 at 11:00 AM
There’s a little piece of information missing form this article. The national inquirer yet again beat out the MSM with this story about a month ago
http://www.nationalenquirer.com/john_edwards_confirms_national_enquirer_story_hush_money_payoff_mistress_rielle_hunter/celebrity/66618
LordDaMan on May 4, 2009 at 11:13 AM
My heart goes out to Elizabeth Edwards.
But if John Edwards has used campaign contributions to pay off his mistress, I want him imprisoned, not merely fined.
The political class needs to be taught at least this lesson.
Loxodonta on May 4, 2009 at 11:19 AM
whats funny/strange about these two stories about Specter and Edwards is that there both linked together by the cancer relationship, and that they both made claims of being able to heal people with their presence in Washington (Specter w/Kemp and Edwards w/Reeve). it’s like these two could play 7 degrees of separation with each other.
stormin1961 on May 4, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I guess he was right there are 2 Americas:
1)scumbags like him that cheat on our wives and pay the whores off
2) and those of us that would not do #1
gsherin on May 4, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Great minds. Here is one I created and the local tea party group posted online. Click on link or go to website for havinganaustinteaparty, then click on audio/video and scroll down to We the People Tea Party Sign. http://havinganaustinteaparty.com/media.html
publiuspen on May 4, 2009 at 11:39 AM
I’d hit it (the mistress, that is).
DethMetalCookieMonst on May 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM
No jail can hold the Breck Girl.
MajorKong on May 4, 2009 at 12:20 PM
So self-esteem, integrity, and commitment go out the window when one becomes the spouse of a public official? Sorry, I’m cynical but I don’t buy it. Edwards is a millionaire several times over thanks to a judicial system that runs amok with class-action lawsuits. His wife and kids will never want for anything whether or not the marriage stays intact. Elizabeth Edwards should have shown some character and thrown her cheating bastard of a husband out on the street instead of pretending that this was just a “rough patch.”
highhopes on May 4, 2009 at 12:35 PM
This Obama fraud has got to eventually meet up with karma or justice, or both. It’s pretty effing unreal to see his thugs getting away with new and unbelievable shit every single day. The media turned on the Clintons. Maybe someday they’ll turn on this post-historical race hustler.
Vermont Neighbor on May 4, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Didn’t Jazzy Jackson do more or less the same thing? With an added love-child, of course.
viking01 on May 4, 2009 at 12:59 PM
I’ve always said that John Edwards deserved a good probing.
bloggless on May 4, 2009 at 1:31 PM
It is hilarious that a guy supposedly worth over 30 million and who still was hauling it in after the election at 50k a pop for speeches on college campuses, was too cheap to fork over a measly 115k for his mistress. LOL
Blake on May 4, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Watch it! Word has it that he might take you up on it. NTTIATWWT.
Blake on May 4, 2009 at 1:54 PM
The stupid part is that her pick up line was, “you’re so hot”!!!!!!! What are they like, 12?
bloggless on May 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Maybe he did not want his wife to know.
bloggless on May 4, 2009 at 2:13 PM
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