Edwards Admits to Affair

ABC News is breaking the story that John Edwards, in an interview with Bob Woodruff, has confessed to his affair with Rielle Hunter. Edwards says he is not the father of Hunter's child.

The National Enquirer is credited with breaking and largely pursuing the story alone. The allegations have long been denied by the Edwards campaign. Edwards said at one point "this story is false, it's completely untrue, it's ridiculous."

The story gained more national exposure in recent weeks as the Enquirer published news of a confrontation with the Senator as he attempted to sneak away from a hotel where he visited the mother and child.

Edwards makes the point that the affair occured while his wife, who has battled breast cancer since 2004, was in remission. He also claims that she and his family have known about the affair since 2006

It remains to be seen if Edwards will attend the Democratic National Convention later this month, and there is virtually no possibility he'll have a chance to speak as was at one time expected. His wife, Elizabeth Edwards, is a scheduled speaker.

UPDATE: Edwards has released a new statement regarding the story (full text below the fold.)

From On Politics:

"In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough.

"I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public. With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006 and today I take full responsibility publicly. But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby.

"It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up –- feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help.

"I have given a complete interview on this matter and having done so, will have nothing more to say."