John Edwards' Former Mistress Testifies Before Grand Jury
Feds investigating possible financial cover-up by Edwards' campaign.
Aug. 6, 2009— -- Rielle Hunter, the filmmaker whose affair with John Edwards ended the ex-senator's political career, was seen entering the federal courthouse in Raleigh, North Carolina, this morning, where a Grand Jury is investigating Edwards' campaign finances.
Hunter, accompanied by attorneys, was seen carrying a toddler in a white sun hat as she entered the courthouse around 8 AM. Click here to watch video from WTVD-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina, of Rielle Hunter arriving at federal court.
After denying the affair to reporters, Edwards finally confessed to his relationship with Hunter in an interview with Bob Woodruff on ABC's Nightline last August, but has continued to maintain he was not the father of her daughter, Frances Quinn.
Andrew Young, a close political aide to Edwards, originally claimed he was the father of Hunter's daughter. But Young – who has two children with his wife, Cheri- has since retracted that story. Young also testified before the Raleigh grand jury in July.
The Youngs are currently working on a book to be published by St. Martin's press in 2010. A source close to the project told ABC News.com that Andrew Young kept "meticulous records" during his work on Edwards' campaign, and has "alarming photographs" of Hunter and Edwards together.
The grand jury is reportedly investigating whether funds for Edwards' election campaign were mishandled. Edwards' political action committee paid Hunter over $100,000 to her filmmaking company, campaign finance records show.
"I am confident that no funds from my campaign were used improperly," Edwards said in May, when the grand jury investigation was reported.
The U.S. attorney's office in Raleigh would not comment for this story.
Accompanied by Attorney
Hunter was accompanied to court by New Jersey trial attorney Michael Critchley who specializes in white collar defense cases, including "official misconduct", according to his firm's website. Critchley had no comment for reporters as he stepped outside to make a cell phone call and declined to answer when asked why Hunter brought her child to the courthouse.