John Edwards Admits Paternity Of Rielle Hunter's Daughter

Rielle Hunter and Frances Quinn Hunter in New Jersey, September 2009. INFDaily.com.

Edwards released a statement Thursday morning.

Newsies were buzzing first thing Thursday about John Edwards' early-morning statement that indeed he is the father of Rielle Hunter's two-year-old daughter. To a Raleigh, North Carolina newspaper and the Today show, Edwards said, "It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter, and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me." Read more here.

Edwards is the former U.S. Senator who sought Democratic nomination for the U.S. Presidency two times (in 2004 he made it; in 2008 he did not). Surrounding the notoriety of these sagas has been the terminal cancer of his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, and the speculation that he and his former campaign worker Rielle Hunter had an affair sometime around 2007.

The affair was exposed by The National Enquirer in early 2008, and when Rielle Hunter gave birth to her daughter Frances Quinn Hunter two years ago, all eyes pointed at John Edwards. A book released in January 2010 revealing details of the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair, and Edwards' January 21 statement was meant to beat another book by a former aide, Andrew Young, which will also hit shelves in February 2010.

Here are excerpts of what John Edwards had to say in his confession that he is the father of Rielle Hunter's daughter:

"I will do everything in my power to provide [Frances] with the love and support she deserves. I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace."

He continued, "To all those I have disappointed and hurt, these words will never be enough, but I am truly sorry."

The person John Edwards is said to have hurt most is his wife Elizabeth, with whom he has four children ages nine through 30. However we reported last week that Elizabeth Edwards is said to have some issues of her own...get the story here.

Not enough juicy political scandal for you? Scott Brown was elected Senator of Massacusetts on Tuesday...see his nude photos in Cosmopolitan here!