Ex-Aide 'Skeptical' John Edwards Now 'Doting' Father of Mistress's Baby

Andrew Young "skeptical" Edwards went from denying paternity to "doting" dad.

ByABC News
January 22, 2010, 8:30 AM

Jan. 22, 2010— -- John Edwards' former aide said he is "skeptical" that the former presidential contender is now a "doting, loving" father of his mistress's toddler after trying for so long to hide his paternity.

Andrew Young also suggested that Edwards finally admitted his fatherhood this week because an upcoming book includes evidence of Edwards' attempt to hide his paternity.

"It's been 2½ years" Young told ABC News, referring to the amount of time that Edwards first began denying an affair with Rielle Hunter and later denying that her child, Frances Quinn, was his daughter.

"For it to come out a week before my book is coming out ... I've expected it a long time. I expected they were going to do a public relations campaign to promote him, which I'm very skeptical of. All of sudden he's a doting, loving father of Quinn. I'm skeptical of it," Young said.

Young is an ex-aide to Edwards, who was so loyal to the Democratic presidential wannabe that he initially agreed to publicly claim he was the father of Quinn to protect Edwards' reputation and political career.

Young wrote his account of the sex scandal in a book titled "The Politician," which will appear on book shelves Jan. 30.

"He is doing this a week before my book comes out where there is going to be stuff that he cannot, you know, there are voice mails. In his voice. And voicemails in Elizabeth's voice that absolutely contradict almost everything that he has said," Young said. "I think that he is trying, that he is going to do everything he can to deflect that."

Edwards flew to Haiti with actor Sean Penn to work on earthquake relief Thursday, the same day he released a statement saying, "I am Quinn's father."

"I will do everything in my power to provide her with the love and support she deserves," Edwards' statement said. He added that it was "wrong" that he denied he was the girl's father.

Tune in to ABC News' "20/20" and "Nightline" Friday, Jan. 29 to see Andrew Young's exclusive groundbreaking interview. Then tune in to "Good Morning America" on the following Monday, Feb. 1, when Young will appear for his first live interview.

Family friend and lawyer Harrison Hickman told ABC News that Edwards made his announcement Thursday because the arrangements for child support were only finalized in the past few days.