So far former Presidential hopeful John Edwards has avoided federal prosecution for allegedly funneling campaign money to his mistress, Rielle Hunter, and a former campaign aid, Andrew Young, who claimed that Hunter’s baby was his. The National Enquirer, along with breaking this story, uncovered an elaborate scheme where Edwards set up Hunter, his love child, and Young and his family in a $5.6 million mansion in Santa Barbara paid for by a wealthy contributor. The Enquirer reported that Young was being paid up to $20k a month from a supporter along with being set up with his family in that posh free mansion with Hunter. Hunter was allegedly being paid $15k a month off he books by another Edwards supporter. Edwards admitted the affair and claimed the baby is not his due to “timing”. He has not taken a paternity test and Hunter is said to want one now that the money has dried up. We haven’t heard much about that in a while, though.

While doing press for her book this spring, Edwards’ long-suffering cancer-striken wife, Elizabeth, dismissed questions about her husband using campaign finances illegally. She said “it’s just not possible” because campaign finances are all public record. Elizabeth has publicly stood by her husband after his affair was made public by the National Enquirer and eventually the rest of the press. (According to the Enquirer, she kicked him out of bed after she found out about the affair, though and he’s now living in a condo nearby.)

This week The Enquirer reports that Edwards’ affair and gross misuse of campaign funds might not fade away so easily. Andrew Young, who is no longer on Edwards’ payroll, is writing a tell all. Many expect him to reveal how Edwards paid him off to claim he was the father of Rielle’s baby:

A year and a half after The Enquirer exposed Andrew Young’s role in the coverup of John Edwards’ affair and love child, Young is finally coming clean in a bombshell expose.

The book could provide the evidence needed for a federal grand jury investigating Edwards to indict the North Carolina politician on violations of election laws, say sources.

Young has claimed he is the father of the baby born to Rielle Hunter – Edwards’ ex-mistress. But investigators have been looking into whether Edwards funneled hush money to both Rielle and Young – who is married with three children.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, July 13, 2009]

They go on to say that The Daily Beast broke the news of Young’s book. It will indeed be a tell-all, and he’s currently shopping it around trying to get a buyer.

The Enquirer is also reporting on that Young just met with the grand jury investigating Edwards’ campaign finances. They say that it’s assumed he’s going to tell them everything, and that “insiders believe he is… testifying against his former boss in exchange for immunity.”

He may get immunity from prosecution along with a hefty advance and the proceeds from this book. This story is such juicy gossip, and as much as it pains me to see a politician I used to admire cheating on his wife, lying and stealing money I sure can’t stop reading about it. I know I would buy this book and so would countless other people. What surprises me is that Rielle Hunter has yet to grant an interview or pen her own tell-all. Maybe she’s classier than we assume, or maybe Edwards is still slipping her some on the side.

John Edwards is shown on 7/30/08. Credit: WENN.com