Beleaguered one-time political star John Edwards admitted today he fathered a love child with mistress Rielle Hunter. “I am Quinn’s father,” he said in a written statement to NBC News, referring to Hunter’s 2-year-old daughter. “It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter.” He goes on to reveal he’s been providing for her financially and will continue to do so. A rep admits that Edwards knowingly lied when he said it was “not possible” he was the father.
The rep adds that Edwards will continue to provide for Quinn “emotionally” as well; Edwards says he has “spent time” with her over the past year. A rep for Elizabeth Edwards says she’s known of the true paternity since last summer. Sources earlier told Radar that Edwards is stepping up now in a bid at further damage control before former aide Andrew Young, who originally claimed to be the father, talks to ABC.
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