John Edwards' mistress has been receiving $15,000 a month in hush money via a rich friend of Edwards, the National Enquirer is claiming. The Enquirer, of course, was the only news outlet that bothered to seriously follow up on allegations that the Democratic politician was having affair with former campaign contractor Rielle Hunter, and thus it was the only publication to catch Edwards in a hotel last week visiting Hunter and his alleged love child. There's been no confirmation of any of this yet from reputable newspapers, like the one that told us about the secret scientist who knew where Saddam Hussein hid his chemical and biological weapons, or from the one that said Puff Daddy was in on the plot to gun down Tupac Shakur. So, gosh, who knows if it can be trusted! But if you still want some salacious details on this hush money stuff — or word from Radar on how the mistress is trying to negotiate her share of this feeding frenzy — it's yours after the jump.

From the Enquirer, on the hush money:

"A super-rich pal – who was closely involved with the campaign finances – is helping John. It's likely this man doesn't know all the dirty details of John's extramarital affair, but is acting out of loyalty and is not asking a lot of questions – only writing the checks," revealed a source very close to the situation.



.... This same ['super-rich'] man is also shoveling cash to Edwards' pal and former aide Andrew Young – who tried to take the heat off the ex-Senator by claiming he is the father of Rielle's baby.

Edwards continues to not bother denying or otherwise commenting on any of the allegations, other than through the body language of physically running and hiding from Enquirer reporters (in a bathroom!) when first caught in the hotel.

Curiously, Hunter isn't denying or otherwise commenting on any of this either! But according to Radar she might soon do so:

We've also heard from multiple sources that a major TV network is currently in negotiations with Hunter to secure a primetime interview, which would be the first serious play the mainstream media has given the story. [Enquirer editor] Perel refused to confirm this as well.

Also via Radar (see prior link), the Washington Post and Huffington Post are anxiously awaiting pictures from the Enquirer's reporting, because it's not enough that Edwards isn't denying the affair or love child, Hunter isn't denying the affair or love child, a team of Enquirer reporters saw Edwards go in and out of the hotel to visit the love child and a security guard confirmed to Fox News that Edwards hid from the Enquirer team just like the tabloid said.

The publications are also hungry for photos even though pictures of Edwards in or near a hotel will prove precisely nothing scandalous, in and of themselves. Talk about missing the point.

[National Enquirer]