ng new allegations about former Sen. John Edwards' extramarital affair are coming out -- this time, the claims could spell the end of Edwards' political career.Former President Bill Clinton faced impeachment during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Former President Bill Clinton faced impeachment during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Click to view previous image
1 of 3
Click to view next image
While the U.S. has a tradition of forgiveness, politicians seem able to gain forgiveness from the public and come back after just about anything. As long as the offender apologizes, gets punished and seems to suffer along the way, they are forgiven.
Edwards admitted to having an affair with former 2008 presidential campaign worker Rielle Hunter. He did a mea culpa.
"In 2006, two years ago, I made a very serious mistake. A mistake that I am responsible for and no one else," he said during an interview with ABC News' "Nightline."
"I told Elizabeth about the mistake, asked her for her forgiveness, asked God for his forgiveness," he said.
But now he's getting the front page New York Times treatment.
The paper cites a book proposal from former Edwards staffer Andrew Young, who alleges the North Carolina Democrat may not have told the full truth when asked if he fathered the mistress' new infant.
"I know that it's not possible that this child could be mine because of the timing of events, so I know it's not possible," Edwards told Nightline.
The article alleges he's likely the father.
"Mr. Young, who has since renounced that statement, has told publishers in a book proposal that Mr. Edwards knew all along that he was the child's father," according to the New York Times article on August 19. "He said Mr. Edread morewards pleaded with him to accept responsibility falsely, saying that would reduce the story to one of an aide's infidelity."
