Report: John Edwards Proposes to Rielle Hunter Weeks After Wife's Death

By Zach Dionne Posted Jan 7th 2011 11:24AM

According to the National Enquirer, John Edwards proposed to mistress Rielle Hunter three weeks after wife Elizabeth Edwards died of cancer. The Enquirer isn't always a bastion of credibility, but its track record with Edwards is notable. The tabloid broke accurate news of the then-presidential candidate's affair in 2007 and eventually picked up steam for a potential Pulitzer Prize win.

The Enquirer reports Edwards recently took Hunter and their 2-year-old daughter, Frances Quinn, on a holiday getaway. "The callous ex-senator introduced his children to Rielle Hunter -- who had destroyed his 33-year marriage and gave birth to his love child," the paper writes in its cover story.

A source told RadarOnline.com the day after Elizabeth Edwards' death, "Rielle has been very patient through all of this. She still believes that John is her soul mate, and she thinks that they're going to get married."

UPDATE: A "family spokesman" tells The Daily Beast: "I can tell you that it's not true. I have no idea where it's coming from. I wouldn't begin to speculate about the Enquirer's sources."

Enquirer executive editor Barry Levine told The Daily Beast that denial from Edwards' camp can't be taken seriously. "Many people deny affairs, but when you've denied your own flesh and blood, nothing this guy [Edwards] says can be taken at face value. We've had very good sources on this from the get-go."

Among the Enquirer's new claims, it says Hunter asked John's children to "call me mommy," and Edwards voiced his goal to "become one big, happy family." The tabloid teases to its print edition for photos of Edwards, Rielle and the children poolside on vacation.

Edwards acknowledged the affair in January 2010, saying in a statement: "I am truly sorry. I am Quinn's father. I will do everything in my power to provide her with the support she deserves."

He added in an ABC interview, "I made a very serious mistake, a mistake I am responsible for and no one else."

In a massive GQ interview in March 2010, Hunter expressed deep sympathy for the fading Elizabeth Edwards. "Oh, my God, I have such compassion for her. I really do. I mean, especially when you have terminal cancer ... I watched my father die of cancer. It's heart-wrenching to me. But it's also really sad to me, her unwillingness to take responsibility for her part in the marriage."

Hunter also spoke out about the Edwards affair, contending the illicit romance was independent from the breakdown of John's marriage to Elizabeth. "Infidelity doesn't happen in healthy marriages. The break in the marriage happens before the infidelity. And that break happened, you know, two and a half decades before I got there. So the home was wrecked already. I was not the home wrecker."

Tags: Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, Rielle Hunter

Comments

(91)

Friday 07 January

By jojo

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YES it IS suprising BECAUSE he is a liberal. Usually it's the Ultra Conservative Reborn Christian GOP Hypocrites who bottomfeed their private moments while trying to divert attention to others, just like your post does.

By falcon38a

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John and Rielle are disgusting. I don't know how much of the tabloid news is true, but they should wait longer to get married. I feel for John and Elizabeth's poor children!

By Jean

I'm no fan of this guy, but his marriage was over and this woman is the mother of his child. What does anyone think he should do? I really fell sorry about Elizabeth. She got a raw deal. Should his baby get a raw deal too? He's out of politics forever now. Lets just forget about him and leave him alone for his children's sake.

By Jollygin

I really feel for the young children. There is no mention of who they are staying with?? Anyone know??? Pretty Boy John should be ashamed for wanting to move on with his relationship with Rielle. This is a slap in the face for his children and for the memory of Elizabeth. Reille needs to watch out, he will probably stray from her also. I really liked John but my opinion has changed alot!I have no respect for him or Reille.

By just saying

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The National Enquirer is lyning and very wrong about this one!!

By Barb

This would not surprise me at all about John Edwards. Heck, he and baby's momma will probably be offered a reality show called "John & Reille plus mistake".

By joan

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I totally agree with what you say falcon38a. These two deserve each other because no other man or woman would want them anymore.
John Edwards is a disgrace to the human race and I think his children with Elizabeth will not be to kind to what they call a father. My heart goes out to that little girl who has John and Rielle for parents as they are shameful individuals.

By D

Typical demoRAT. Typical liberal hypocrite.

Yes, Dems keep it in the family and don't try to screw the whole country -- like when Gingrich led the impeachment charge while he was simultaneously cheating on his own wife while on the public payroll and clock! You got it ALL figured out, except for the facts -- but facts are no problem for GOP, especially not for Tea P's.

By Fatefox

Oh yes, because Republicans never leave their wives alone to deal with terminal cancer *cough* Newt *cough*. Can't we just say some men are cads without bringing up the political divide? Let's face it, some men who are attracted to power in either party are also attracted to the perks said power brings; and some women make it way too easy for them to cheat. There are no innocents here, but it's not all a "liberal hypocrite" issue.

By Susan

Unlike all those republiCAN'TS who screw senate pages and have homosexual trysts in airport bathrooms and cheat on their wives - and wait - SCREW THE ENTIRE COUNTRY! Gotta love those republiCAN'TS!

Monday 07 February

By East Coast

Cheating is not a political party issue. Cheating unfortunately is present in all parties, races, religions, professions. It is a selfish & cruel thing to do to your spouse and children.
Regardless of the party they are in, they are disgusting and morally corrupt. They deserve all the misery they caused others 10 fold. Karma is something you cannot avoid-I hope I live long enough to see both of them get what they deserve, they are both disgusting. Everyone should spit in their face

By ks

Soul mates indeed, they deserve each other.

By D. Middleton

Disgusting. May you rot in hell.

My their lives be filled with misery and their 'eternal life' be even worse for what they have done.

By LOO

That Rielle woman is really fugly. Ewww John how could you?.

By lmhaletexan

Does this woman honestly believe that he won't cheat on her? Rielle must be in denial. Fairy-tale ending indeed!!!! LOL

By Kareen

In a couple years, Rielle will be fed up of John and move on to married man #2 or #3 or whatever number she's up to at that time; and John may venture out to look for a new mommy for his children. Who knows??? May Elizabeth rest in peace.

By edwardsmike

I thought that John Edwards would be a great President until all this happened. Now he's just another pr*ck who can't keep it in his pants,

By jsjs09

I agree!

I used to really like him, and now he makes me sick to my stomach...barf, barf, barf!!!! :(

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