Ex-Aide: Edwards Asked Me to "Steal" Dirty Diaper to Conduct DNA Test
Credit: ABC News
John Edwards' former campaign aide Andrew Young is lashing out at the ex-presidential candidate, 56, for waiting so long to admit that he fathered mistress Rielle Hunter's nearly 2-year-old daughter, Quinn.
"I think those were words, empty words," he tells ABC News of Edwards' bombshell confession Thursday. "If that is what he wanted to say, he should have said it two years ago. And there has been plenty of time...Now I think it's just a PR campaign."
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Family friend and lawyer Harrison Hickman tells ABC News that Edwards made his announcement Thursday because arrangements for child support were just finalized in the last few days.
Another factor: Young details the Edwards sex scandal in his new book, The Politician, out Feb. 2.
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In his ABC News interview, Young says Edwards proposed the elaborate cover-up to hide the fact that he fathered Hunter's baby. Initially, Young publicly stated that he was the child's father -- which Hunter never denied.
"The senator made the full pitch," Young says in the interview. "Not just for me. I mean he didn't just have to convince me that I was going to take paternity. He also had to convince Rielle that she would publicly claim that I had been the father."
Young says that Edwards, not convinced that he was the dad, asked him to steal one of his daughter's dirty diapers as part of a DNA strategy.
"Get a doctor to fake the DNA results," Young said Edwards told him. "And he asked me ... to steal a diaper from the baby so he could secretly do a DNA test to find out if this [was] indeed his child."
Young says he refused.
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For more, tune in to "20/20" and "Nightline" Friday, Jan. 29. Young is also set to appear live on ABC's Good Morning America next Tuesday, Feb. 2.
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44ANDREW YOUNG IS THE WORST BACKSTABBING SNAKE ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW. Hope you're proud of yourself Andrew for showing the world what a vicious, evil snake you are. YOU'LL BURN IN HELL.
Liars
John Edwards is the biggest PIG on the planet,,,, I hope he and his w***e burn in hell!
CAN YOU SAY PUBLICITY FOR EVERYBODY!! THEY WERE CONTROLLING THE PUBLICITY ABOUT EDWARDS FATHERING THE CHILD UNTIL THE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL DETAILS WERE WORKED OUT! A CLAUSE WAS PROBABALY PLACED AGAINST THE AID AND NOW HAS EXPIRED! WE ALL KNEW HE WAS THE CHILD'S FATHER, RIGHT! THEY ALL DID WHAT THEY HAD TO DO TO PROTECT THE DISGRACED FAMILY OF MR. BROWN. I FEEL CERTAIN THAT MS HUNTER DID NOT WALK AWAY UNSCAVED. NO THEY'RE NOT AS CELEBRATED AS BRAD PITT AND HIS TRASH; ANGELINA JOLIE, BUT WHAT THEY DID IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH PITT AND JOLIE!! GOD DOESN'T LIKE UGLY! THEY'LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO HIM!! THERE'S NO WAY ANY OF THE ADULTS INVOLED IN SUCH PUBLIC DISGRACE CAN BE TRULY HAPPY! THEY"RE LYING TO THEMSELVES AND TO THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY SAY THEY ARE! THERE IS NO HONOR IN DELIBERTLY, PURPOSELY HURTING OTHERS JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN!.. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE FULL OF YOUR UGLY SELF!!HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN SUCH UGLY TO YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THE PARENT'S BEHAVIOR COME BACK AROUND TO HURT THEM!? I'D LIKE TO BE THE FLY ON THE WALL FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS!! NO! YOU CAN'T SHIELD TEM FROM IT!! MASS MEDIA, AND OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATIONS WILL KEEP THESE ARTICLES ALIVE FOR ALL TIME!
It isn't easy being in the public eye. I think it makes you crazy. He is a man-he makes mistakes as everyone does, but his are on the cover of People magazine, and thankfully mine aren't.
John Edwards lost a son to a automobile accident. I have always felt such sympathy for he and his wife. How disgusting to then deny being the father to this little girl. She will grow up and read about it. How could he do that knowing the pain of losing a child, then deny another innocent. He and his wife have known about this little girl for almost two years and they cared more for themselves. I'm sorry she has cancer, but even selfish people get cancer. Forget the woman, woman love to blame and bash woman. Just read these posts. It's Edwards that is the lying phony pig. He is the worst kind.
Love ya, Bebe. Sooo agree with you.
He is right, empty words from Edwards at this point, after 2 years of denying, that makes him a liar. He and the harlot will be two of the most hated people in America forever for what they did to Elizabeth Edwards. There is no redemption from here.
*&%$#@#$*&#@!#*!!!
Why is Mr Young writing a book about this? Why is he telling the truth now? Why, Why? Money. Mr Young and his wife should be ashamed for not coming forward before. Liars.
John was a married man at the time he had sex with Rielle. Rielle NEW she was messing with a marrried man. Shame on her. She could have walked away but she didn't. She could have used protection but she didn't. She is as much to blame as John Edwards, no excuse. If your in Washington and in Politics and your a man then you have probably done something like this but just have not got caught. Shame on John Edwards for doing such a horrible thing to his family. I feel for Elizabeth and their children. Stay Strong Elizabeth.
Why he did it anyway..he could say no..he is as bad as Edward hiding the truth the last 2 yrs..now it all about making money from his book..lol..
Politicians...left or right, Dem or Rep, does not matter. They all stink. To borrow a line from Conan O'Brien, politicians are brain-dead sons (and daughters) of goats who eat money and cr*p trouble. Let god sort them out.
ok leave the man alone...this is his problem he and his family will work it out...and why is the aide now spilling the beans...wow you cant trust anybody ...friends are now enemies...
There is just no HONOR left in this world:-(
Not defending Edwards at all, but how dumb was this guy for saying he was the father. Thirty peices of silver, if you ask me.
Funny how your friends all throw you to the wolves when there is money involved. So much for loyalty and hurray for greed!
So sad for this baby girl and Elizabeth Edwards children, it would have been best for these kids if all this had been kept private from the very beginning. Sorry to admit I used to be an Edwards supporter, alot of it had to do with his family dynamics, how wrong I was! John Edwards seems to live in some other universe, have someone else make the public statement acknowledging your daughter and then head to Haiti airport for some PR - Damage Control. SHAME ON YOU JOHN EDWARDS, how dare you take attention away from the plight of the Haitian people just to redeem yourself, no one is buying your act anymore you are so obvious! Go home and spend time with ALL of your children they need a dad at this time, especially since they may soon lose their mom to cancer.
lol, now thats funny..and gross! Wonder how much these people got paid to say that..
I'm so glad that he didn't become the presidential candidate. He's a disgusting example of D.C's corruption. I mean, this is truly sick.