Former Edwards aide looking to tell all

The man who took responsibility for the child of John Edwards' mistress is reportedly shopping a book

Published June 23, 2009 12:23AM (EDT)

If a report in the Daily Beast is accurate, then former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., has a lot of trouble on his hands, and it'll most likely last long enough to put off any hopes for a poltiical comeback for quite a while.

Sara Nelson, the former editor-in-chief of Publishers Weekly, reports that a longtime aide to and friend of Edwards' is shopping a tell-all book around publishing circles. By itself, the news that a former aide is looking to dish on a fallen politician wouldn't be such a big deal. But the identity of the author makes this quite the story: The man behind the book is Andrew Young, who took in Edwards' former mistress, Rielle Hunter, and claimed to be the father of her child.

Young is apparently feeling burned by Edwards. Nelson reports that, for eight months, he played along -- helped out by an undisclosed payment -- but became uncomfortable after the National Enquirer revaled the affair. When he discussed that with Edwards, the fomer senator reportedly stopped all contact with him. Now, according to Nelson, Young wants to "set the record straight."

Publishers have been reluctant to buy the book, in part because of sympathy for Elizabeth Edwards, Nelson writes. But whoever ends up with it could have a gold mine on their hands: Young's proposal reportedly includes photos of Edwards with Hunter's child. The former senator has admitted to his affair, but denied paternity.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

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