I’m pretty burnt at the moment, having written over 11,000 13,000 heavily researched, meticulously hyperlinked words about the John Edwards/Rielle Hunter story in the last 2 weeks. (No, it ain’t diggin’ ditches. Anybody can dig ditches!) But the story’s still developing, and our traffic is way up. What to do? Simple: I’ll let you guys do all the work.
Please note that unlike certain people, I’m giving credit where it’s due. In no particular order:
- Some say this very special lady’s name is pronounced “Riley.” Some say it’s “Ree-elle.” According to commenters “a reader” and Fortunate Son, it’s pronounced “Real.” (Sorry for doubting your instincts, Maureen.) Of course, we might have nailed down the correct pronunciation by now if the n-e-w-s hadn’t waited for John Edwards to let them off the leash. For now, I’m sticking to the way I’ve been pronouncing her name: “Koo-Koo Nuttington III.”
- Commenter Ellis Easton Bret (get it?) thinks he knows why John and Rielle are behaving the way they’re behaving. It’s all speculation, of course, but it certainly would explain a lot.
- Fortunate Son has more info on Pigeon O’Brien — which is the name of an actual person — here and here. I used to think it was hacky when comedians said, “You can’t make this stuff up, folks!” And it is hacky, but you really can’t. FS also has more info on Mimi Hockman (Rielle’s “partner” in that “video production company”) and the career of Andrew Young.
- Another supercommenter, Kris, looks at some of the attorneys involved in this mess. Besides Edwards, that is. (And FS has a good question: How can people like Rielle Hunter and Andrew Young afford such high-priced legal talent?) Kris also has some interesting information about Hockman, Edwards’ campaign aides, Andrew Young (with more here), Rielle’s attempted screenwriting career, and Fred Baron.
- Apparently Rielle’s dad, James Druck, has a very interesting history. Dr. Fager explains, and Guesst elaborates. Owie!
- Fran points out that based on Frances Quinn Hunter’s date of birth, the date of conception must have been on or around June 6, 2007. Which would make this all the more perfect. Maybe Rielle really was under the podium…
- Thanks to FS again for pointing out Breitbart.tv’s B-Cast yesterday, which actually credited Deceiver for the information they used. (You know how lazy and irresponsible those dumb bloggers are, unlike actual journalists.) Also, he’s got more info on Rielle’s sister Melissa Druck, and on apparent changes to the homepage of the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
So thanks, you guys! All this stuff is enough to make your head spin, and it would have been nice if the media had released it over the last three weeks instead of cramming it into the last 96 hours. But one thing’s for sure: There are a hell of a lot of pieces to this puzzle, and very few of them fit together the way Edwards claims they do.
Although he might be wising up:
This just in from CNN.com:
See, NYT and ABC? That’s all you have to do. The video is supposed to be here, but all I’m seeing is some kind of style segment. If you guys find the video, please let me know and now it seems to be working.
And lest I forget: 23/6 has a Venn diagram that may just explain the existence of Bob McGovern. As well as some nice words about us, which is always pleasant.
Via The Hot Joints: Check out this Fox News clip re-creating how the National Enquirer’s Beverly Hilton sting went down. (You can fast-forward through the first 45 seconds, because it’s just Geraldo being Geraldo.) Apparently, Enquirer reporter Alan Butterfield is motivated in no small part by follicle envy.
Speaking of 23/6: Laurie Kilmartin interviews Rielle Hunter. Naughty words! (Hat tip: luscious_t)
Via Kris, via NY Mag, via the NY Post: Ladies and gentlemen, Andrew Young.
Bruce Willis, look out!
On second thought, I’m getting more of an Arnold Vosloo/Billy Zane thing there. I’m sure their agents are gearing up for the inevitable round of TV movies. This whole thing makes the Amy Fisher story look like a cute prank.
BTW, that NY Mag story cites the NYT article that ripped us off. Just wanted to note it.
Maybe I’m being too hasty, but: Our new friend Pigeon does not strike me as the most reliable narrator.
Yet another twist in this story: They’ve discovered the last surviving dodo bird!
Act a fool: Is this Rielle’s IMDb page? Apparently there was a Lisa Hunter in the Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell comedy Overboard. Lisa Druck, Lisa Hunter, Rielle Hunter? Sounds like a plausible progression. If so, she was also in Ricochet (NSFW), which is one of my favorite bad movies. It might turn out that John Lithgow was the second-craziest freak in that flick!
Related posts:
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- Yet Another Rielle-Related Site Vanishes Yesterday the Newark Star-Ledger tried to talk to Rielle Hunter’s...
- John & Rielle Odds & Ends Another Friday on the John Edwards story, another emergency room...
- Deceiver.tv I mentioned it yesterday, but I wanted to say thanks...
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“The contributions of… Andrew and Cheri Young cannot be put into words, but each knows his or her importance in my family’s life.”
John Edwards in his book Four Trials
Acknowledgement page IX
http://i35.tinypic.com/o0z29f.jpg
Acknowledgement page X
http://i33.tinypic.com/10xddn6.jpg
Strangely, puppet master Fred Rich is not listed in these acknowledgments, but it will be interesting to learn which, if any, of the parties from that same acknowledgment were involved in the Rielle Hunter coverup.
“Alyse Tharp, Babs Nichols, Matt Leonard, Matt Nowell, Tyler Highsmith, Will Henderson, Gwynn Winstead, Thomas Sayre, Gene Hafer, Jim Jenkins, DIane Payne, Hargrave McElroy and Dan McLamb”
Re: the above listed in Edwards’ acknowledgment with Cheri & Andrew Young.
Matt Leonard, Environmental protester
Dan McLamb, Malpractice defense lawyer,
Hargrave McElroy, Elizabeth Edwards personal assistant
Thomas Sayre, Raleigh Sculptor, creator of the very cool ’shimmer wall’
Gene Hafer, philanthropist and board member of Wade Edwards Foundation
Babs Nichols and Diana Payne, Teachers at Broughton High School Raleigh,
Matt Nowell, Tyler Highsmith, Will Henderson, Wade Edwards’ high school friends.
Gwynn Winstead, John Edwards’ neighbor
Alyse Tharp, whereabouts unknown.
Ultra-kudos, to Deceiver, et al!
The rich, buttery scandal-douch-baggery gets mo-bettah’ every day.
Edwards is in deeper than he could possibly have imagined.
And he just. doesn’t. ‘get it’.
Each day this tap-dances closer to the convention the better.
I can’t wait! *tee-hee!*
How would this affect the convention? At this point, Edwards is pretty much dis-invited - even if he says he doesn’t want to go no one else in the Democratic party wants him there. Why? Because, a la Bill Clinton, Eliot Spitzer, he had sex outside of his marriage. To make matters worse, his wife is dying. So, yeah, Edwards is a tool’s tool.
Exactly how does this effect Obama? We know Edwards isn’t going to be a choice for Veep or AG or anything in an Obama cabinet. Edwards political career is over. Now, if sleaze mongers on the right actually can prove Obama got blown by some guy in the back of a limousine while snorting cocaine, presumably off some young boy’s ass, then, you guys will be onto something that will impact the election. Otherwise, yawn, it’s another sex scandal for the democrats.
Er… who’s “you guys”? Guys who are interested in a fantastically juicy story?
And Jenny, if I may quote you from July 28:
Whoops!
Oh, I love a juicy story as much as anyone. What I was commenting on, back in the day, is possible reason the mainstream media wasn’t picking up on the story is because Edwards wasn’t that relevant. Looks like I was wrong about that. Ooopsie. You did leave out the part where I wondered if the msm wasn’t covering an Enquirer story because it might make them look sleazy.
What I am commenting on today is someone giggling with glee over how this should affect the nominating convention. Which I don’t think Edwards intense narcissism will. Now, if it were photos of Obama getting blown while snorting cocaine off a young boys ass, that would be something. (I think I read that rumor in a comments section on some gossip site. Not 100% sure if it was here) I guess time will tell if Edwards creates a problem for Obama’s chances of getting elected. Since I have been proven wrong before, it might happen again.
Commenter “Ray” makes a good observation:
http://deceiver.com/2008/08/11/deceiver-scoops-new-york-times/#comment-7902
“What on earth is J Edwards doing…flying all over the country meeting with mayors, giving speeches, etc. while his wife is dying? I don’t care if they do have enough money for round the clock care. These last few months matter and speeches could be planned for later. I’ve been there (cancer) and outside interests, including a long-term affair, was last on my mind.”
Well, in hindsight, it seems there were clues in many articles that profiled John and Elizabeth which alluded to not everything being absolutely wonderful with regards to their relationship. Most of the problems that are subtly implied seem to stem most likely from the kinds of narcissism and psychological disorders (like NPD) that commenters “Ellis Easton Bret” and “Fortunate Son” have discussed.
As evidence, witness these excerpts from an article called “The Days and Nights of Elizabeth Edwards” by Monica Langley:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118497843234573633-1F20t3U_t2wTS3o_ls81eY1wGwo_20070819.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top
“At a cabin on a recent weekend, Elizabeth Edwards and her 7-year-old son Jack are working on a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, while 9-year-old daughter Emma Claire is drawing animals on a piece of paper. Returning from a five-mile run, presidential candidate John Edwards raids the refrigerator and plops down in his sweaty clothes to munch on sugar snap peas at the table.
“You’re going to be at the hospital, right?” Mrs. Edwards asks him, nervous about the bone scan she faces in a couple days to determine if her incurable cancer has spread further. A concerned look crosses their daughter’s face. “Mommy’s getting a test,” Mrs. Edwards says reassuringly.
When Jack asks at another point who will be his children’s grandma because she’ll be dead, Mrs. Edwards chokes up, unable to answer.”
Seems like Ellizabeth shouldn’t have had to have asked if John was going to accompany her. He seems more concerned with his exercise routing and staying in the limelight.
Also, John never seemed to be able to take criticism well, especially when faced with questions that shone a spotlight on any contradictions between his actions and the public persona he so carefully tried to craft. See the following excerpt from the Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/15/a_dark_diagnosis_reaffirmed_a_commitment/?page=6
“When the Fortress investments were revealed in the Wall Street Journal in August, Edwards responded by divesting his Fortress portfolio of funds tied to subprime mortgages. He also helped the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, a nonprofit organization helping low- and moderate-income families, launch a Louisiana Home Rescue Fund. He provided much of the $100,000 in seed money for the program, which gave loans and grants to families whose houses were foreclosed on by lenders, including in some case ones with ties to Fortress.
Still, Edwards sounded defiant when he was asked whether he regrets the work for Fortress.
“I don’t apologize,” he said. “Nobody ever gave me anything. I worked my rear end off, and I’ve been able to have some good luck and success in my life. I want everybody in this country to have this chance. I wanted my kids to have a better life. My parents wanted me and my brother and sister to have a better life. There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s America.”
Notice that Edwards never mentioned his $16 million investment in Fortress until AFTER the WSJ reported on it. After that Edwards claims that he told Fortress that he wanted to divest his portfolio of funds from the funds Fortress has tied to subprime mortgages. However, in follow-up interviews, Edwards never explains how he did this. Edwards doesn’t seem to think its his responsibility to ever explain his actions in an honest manner, regardless of the consequences.
If it helps, DBKP, which has been all over this story, has also debunked Larry Sinclair’s claims:
http://deathby1000papercuts.com/larry-sinclair-library-of-dbkp-stories-on-obama-accuser/
Finally a picture of Andrew Young! Of course, Deceiver.com should be credited for the McGovern info instead of the NYT being cited…
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/08/rielle_hunters_cabal_of_crazy.html
I was just about to say the same thing, Kris, but I’m tired. So very tired…
Oh man, you know how hard I looked for photos of Andrew Young?
I figured out who assasinated Kennedy and found the switch OPEC uses to raise the price of gasonline in my attempts, but failed at the Andrew Young photo.
Looks like a mugshot that they bought with a public records service, though.
That’s cheating, really.
It was time for a photo board, though.
Simon, you should take all of your hard work — and ours, with proper credit, of course — and convert the Deceiver.com articles and threads into a book. P.S. Don’t forget to share the royalties with your contributors.
A larger, color corrected photo of Andrew Young, courtesy of ABC (by way of NY Post).
http://i33.tinypic.com/2qdv91z.jpg
Looks like the New York Post is mentioning what Fortunate Son and I were talking about yesterday. Hopefully other reporters will be starting to follow the money and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more in regards to whether (as Joseph Culligan from webofdeception.com asserts, via reviewing FEC filings) Edwards was paying Baron with campaign contributions in order to funnel to Rielle.
See this excerpt from the Post:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08122008/news/columnists/give_this_love_lips_a_punch_in_the_kier_124098.htm
“Why did your campaign pay Baron more than $57,000 the month Rielle’s baby was born? Oh, right. Must be a coincidence.”
Oh, and I agree with you, Fortunate Son: I knew with Andrew’s record that there must be some mugshots available, but I thought that was “cheating,” too - and I didn’t feel like spending any money on something John Edwards related!
This one’s for you, Kris:
Rielle Hunter’s first husband Kip Hunter (also an attorney, and son of the Boulder DA in the JonBenet Ramsey Case).
http://i35.tinypic.com/5eua34.jpg
Hmm…I’ve been clicking around on that Federal Election Commission Website and I noticed payments totaling $12,967 directly to Andrew Young:
See Link:
http://query.nictusa.com/pres/2007/YE/C00431205/B_PAYEE_C00431205.html
Not sure if this means anything, since I’m sure “Andrew Young” is a pretty common name. However, if the payment is in reference to “the” Andrew Young, then I guess it was for payments for a job he did for the campaign before he left his job in late 2007?
the sisters are talking on TV tomorrow, and saying edwards is the father:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/12/edwards-fathered-hunters_n_118529.html
^^sorry that should be HUNTER’S sisters^^
Very impressive research, Fortunate Son (and others). I’m relatively new to Deceiver.com–what a valuable site! Someone else may already have asked, but has anyone checked Edwards schedule for March 20, 2007? My guess would be that his “former” mistress would want to spend her birthday with him. I believe he appeared on the Tonight Show in March.
Also, does anyone know if Hunter accompanied the Edwards campaign to the 12/30/06 rally “on the Green” in Chapel Hill? I was at that rally with a press pass and took some photos. Think I’ll try to locate them, just in case.
Rielle Hunter’ sister Roxanne Hunter, courtesy of Entertainment tonight.
http://i38.tinypic.com/5kluma.jpg
tinydancer: see my post from yesterday in regards to the March 20th question:
http://deceiver.com/2008/08/11/deceiver-scoops-new-york-times/#comment-7895
Also, see Lee Stranahan’s site: Stranahan.com and Lee’s Twitter site. Lee and his friends are investigating.
A person who says that James Druck is their father deletes stuff about the infamous horse murders from Rielle Hunter’s Wikipedia page: http://tinyurl.com/5sy9j8. Now it’s restored, with lots of working links, quotes.
Also, in support of my hypothesis that Simon links to above, McInerney’s novel begins with Alison Poole describing her dad (and mentioning that her prize horse “dropped dead”). Specifically, McInerney has Alison Poole/Rielle Hunter say:
If the italicized part of this quote isn’t a direct reference to sexual abuse of the Alison Poole character by her father, I don’t know what is.
Thanks, Kris. I assumed I wasn’t the only one to wonder about that date. Should be clear soon.
On a personal note, I went to high school with Edwards (then Johnny), but didn’t really know him. His hometown is a struggling little town where his parents still live and they are truly nice people. Can’t imagine what effect his behavior is having on them. Although I was never a supporter of his party, it was good to see the town of Robbins begin to benefit just a little from the attention his candidacy provided. Now I am just hoping to see the whole truth revealed before the media’s short attention span wanes. The specifics of the money trail should prove to be very interesting.
Both ET and The Insider are going to air interviews with the two sisters and their assertion that JE is indeed the bio-Dad, I mean someone has to defend RH, right?…oh boy, tomorrow should be a hell of a day!
The interviews will certainly be entertaining, but of course Ms. “Real” is not going to settle the matter of paternity as long as she is in love (i.e. deluted by JE). All I can say is she should avoid traveling on any small private planes owned by Baron for a while since accidents happen. I’m betting on the Youngs to start cracking soon.
Yes, I’m wondering who will crack first, Andrew and/or Cheri or RH. I mean, the money train has to stop sometime, yes? Or did they think Baron was going to pay them for the rest of their lives? Have they reported this money to the IRS?
The Enquirer has more.
Edwards has continued his sexual relationship with Rielle Hunter and met her three times at the Beverly Hilton in 2008.
http://www.nationalenquirer.com/john_edwards_sex_more_lies_videotape_/celebrity/65288
Maybe the March 20, Rielle Hunter birthday/ Tonight Show appaerance Kris and Tinydancer referenced.
AND John Edwards flew Rielle out of town by private jet on August 6, 2008, one day before the Internet Wayback Machine changed their homepage and two days before Edwards admitted his affair.
#1. Find the private airports with runways of at least 5030 feet, per JetAdvisors the smallest runway length that Fred Baron’s Hawker 800XP (per Dossier at DBKP the model whose interior matches the jet from the Webisodes - can operate out of.
(http://www.davidcurtisdesign.com/f18140a6b-small.jpg)
(http://www.jetadvisors.com/aircrafts/hawker800xp.htm)large enough to take jets near Rielle’s rental.
#2. Find the flight plan they would’ve had to file and find where they went.
So why the urgency on August 6, 2008 to move Rielle Hunter?
Well, the Enquirer published a photo of John Edwards with his ‘alleged’ baby.
Plus, the first public mention of the possibility that Fred Baron was John Edwards’ money man was made… right here at Deceiver.
James Druck Horse murders break into ABC news: http://tinyurl.com/65kk3g
Someone who says that James Druck is their dad keeps deleting this stuff from Wikipedia’s Rielle Hunter web page: http://tinyurl.com/5sy9j8, repeated deletions now a problem that’s being discussed.
Here’s the answer to all the chirping crickets: Mimi Hockman is CONTRACTUALY BOUND from making comments - as in PAID OFF with (as Fortunate Son surmised) AIR TIGHT non disclosure agreements…
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1218429329297600.xml&coll=1
Just read the new Enquirer story: WOW WEE!!!! Uhm, while JE was paying all these people off and whisking them away (er, I mean, JE’s friends without his knowledge) someone forgot to include RH’s sisters and pal from the gravy train. While Markos and his ilk at the Daily Kiosk wallow in the warm, hazy after glow of communal, consensual idiocy, wouldn’t you think somebody would wake up and realize that until and unless JE comes clean about his actions/behavior, this is toxic to the National Convention? As some jackass there told me, I missed the bus, but after getting the whiff of many of the brain dead Dembots which haunt the place like mildew, I’d rather miss the bus than get thrown under it.
“…wouldn’t you think somebody would wake up and realize that until and unless JE comes clean about his actions/behavior, this is toxic to the National Convention?”
One would. And that makes it all the more delicious. He’s such an unbelievable narcissist he still puts his (now dead) personal political aspirations above party & country. Until Obama takes the stage, the only thing on everyone’s lips will be John “Father of the Year” Edwards”.
*yum!*
Edwards claims he told Elizabeth about his affair in 2006 and that it had ended. I went through old photos today from his Chapel Hill, NC hometown rally on December 30, 2006 which I attended with my husband who is a reporter but was not on duty that night. I took quite a few photos. There is one photo which shows Rielle with her camera filming John as he greets his parents, and she is in the background in one taken backstage with Elizabeth in the foreground. Now why would she be with John, his wife, his children and his parents in Chapel Hill if he had told his wife about the affair? Doesn’t quite add up, does it?
tinydancer — send photos to oversneer@gmail.com. We’ll distribute and make sure you get appropriate credit if you provide your real name — whatever you’d like.
Does anyone know if Cate is staying with her parents in NC during this scandal? She was the one who kept things together for her parents after Wade died…seems to be the calm centered voice in the family. Wonder if she would confirm that the family was told all about the “brief liaison” in 2006?
Just found this video on YouTube. Must have been the stop before Edwards came home to Chapel Hill on 12/30/06. About 20 seconds in, Rielle appears on the right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQNdeqFsufg
The confessing and “the process of healing” Elizabeth says occurred in 2006 must have all happened on New Year’s Eve if it occurred in 2006.
wow! that video is incredible. or “amazing” as rielle might say. “just amazing. life altering”. uh DUH. maybe john told elizabeth he had an affair but he sure didn’t say with who cause if you saw the mistress as paid staff, wouldn’t you attack her? of course. so she sure didn’t know it was rielle. no way. i’m just pissed i sent $500 to his campaign and it was used to pay for a whore’s travel and meals. that sucks. and rielle is a W-H-O-R-E. i hope she and her bastard child have lots of fun using campaign money to live in their mansion and get loads of money each month considering she didn’t work for it and has never held an actual qualified job of any sort. so glad i wrote the check as i work 50 hours/week.