National Enquirer Submits for Pulitzer Prize After John Edwards Admits Paternity of Rielle Hunter's Daughter

2 years ago

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Barry Levine, editor of the National Enquirer, is nominating his reporters for a Pulitzer Prize for their work in uncovering the John Edwards affair.

Levine told me that Edwards' admission Thursday that he fathered a daughter with a campaign videographer during his 2008 presidential run made him decide to submit nomination forms for his reporters in two categories: for distinguished investigative reporting by a team, presented in a series of articles, and for a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs.

Two weeks ago, I called for the National Enquirer to get the prestigious journalism award because its reporters broke the story that has led to a grand jury investigation of Edwards' use of campaign funds and the political downfall of a two-time Democratic presidential candidate. At the time, Levine told me that, "Our Enquirer reporters do deserve to be nominated for a Pulitzer, but you know the mainstream media would rather see the Earth explode first!"

Now that the Enquirer's two-year reporting that Edwards had an out-of-wedlock child with Rielle Hunter has been validated by him, the paper published this reaction: "John Edwards finally admitted his paternity of his love child to the world today in his 2nd "confession" in a complete vindication of the Enquirer's exhaustive investigation." The child, Quinn Hunter, is 23 months old.

The former Democratic senator from North Carolina and his wife Elizabeth Edwards had repeatedly denied that he is the father of Hunter's child. Edwards' former aide Andrew Young initially claimed paternity, but is now recanting that claim in a new book, which he will preview on ABC's 20/20 on Friday.

Pulitzer Prizes are given each year "for outstanding journalism" to newspapers and eligible news sites (not magazines or TV). Editors submit nominations on behalf of their reporters. There are 14 categories for Pulitzers and each has its own jury of "distinguished journalists" who determine the winner. The Pulitzer juries value work "characterized by a high quality of writing and original reporting."

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