Return of the John Edwards – Rielle Hunter Scandal

Well, it appears that John Edwards has been busted. This story, which initially appeared in the Enquirer, has made it over to Fox News:

Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters

A hotel security guard told FOXNews.com he intervened this week between a man he identified as former Sen. John Edwards and tabloid reporters who chased down the former presidential hopeful after what they’re calling a rendezvous with his mistress and love child. The Beverly Hilton Hotel guard said he encountered a shaken and ashen-faced Edwards — whom he did not immediately recognize — in a hotel men’s room early Tuesday morning in a literal tug-of-war with reporters on the other side of the door.

“What are they saying about me?” the guard said Edwards asked. “His face just went totally white,” the guard said, when Edwards was told the reporters were shouting out questions about Edwards and Rielle Hunter, a woman the National Enquirer says is the mother of his child.

The guard said he escorted Edwards, who was not a registered guest at the hotel, out of the building after 2 a.m. The guard did not recognize Edwards at the time of the incident, but said he concluded it was the 2008 presidential hopeful after hearing reports about the incident and finding an Enquirer reporter’s notebook at the scene. The guard later confirmed Edwards’ identity after being shown a photograph.

Enquirer Editor-in-Chief David Perel told FOXNews.com his reporters caught Edwards visiting Hunter and her baby at the hotel earlier Monday evening. Perel said Hunter and Edwards have been occasionally getting together so Edwards can see the baby. Hunter came to Beverly Hills with a male friend, Bob McGovern, said Perel. Hunter and her companion reportedly booked two rooms under McGovern’s name, and McGovern picked up Edwards to bring him back to the hotel.

Rielle Hunter

Whatever made John Edwards and his camp think he would be presidential material, with this kind of potential albatross hanging around his neck?

In other news, the Los Angeles Times has banned its bloggers , including political bloggers, from mentioning the Edwards/Rielle Hunter story. More info at Slate.

Update

LA Times blog editor Tony Pierce responds to criticism about National Enquirer story

That’s what I was just saying to them, that until we have a better source, let’s hold off on being part of the speculation.”