HADDONFIELD, N.J. – The lawyer for a videographer for former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards 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 Thursday that he was the father of Rielle (ree-EHL') Hunter's nearly 2-year-old daughter amounted a public acknowledgment of something that was known privately.
He said Hunter did not have an immediate comment.
Edwards' admission comes shortly before a book on the scandal is due out from a former campaign aide who was expected to describe how Edwards worked to hide his paternity.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has finally come forward to admit that he is the father of a child born to a videographer he hired before his second White House bid. "It was wrong for me to ever deny she was my daughter," he said Thursday.
Edwards released a statement to The Associated Press after long denying that he'd fathered a child during an affair with Rielle Hunter. The admission comes shortly before a book on the scandal is due out from a former campaign aide who was expected to describe how Edwards worked to hide his paternity.
"I am Quinn's father," the former senator declared in his statement, as the second birthday of Frances Quinn Hunter approaches.
A lawyer for Hunter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is not clear where she is living.
Frances was born Feb. 27, 2008, indicating that the child was conceived in the middle of 2007, several months after Hunter stopped working for Edwards. John and Elizabeth Edwards renewed their wedding vows in July of 2007 to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.
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.
Elizabeth Edwards, whose cancer returned in an incurable form in March 2007, has stood by her husband despite the affair. She has said that it does not matter to her whether her husband fathered a child with Hunter, saying, "that would be a part of John's life, but not a part of mine."
Since admitting the affair in August 2008, John Edwards has largely gone into seclusion. He has acknowledged a federal investigation into his campaign finances while both Young and Hunter — with her child — have made appearances at a federal courthouse in Raleigh.
In the statement Edwards released Thursday, he said, "I will do everything in my power to provide her (Frances) with the love and support she deserves. I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace."
Edwards also said, "It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me."
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