Former North Carolina Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is denying a report that he used the services of a prostitute in New York while he was fundraising for his 2008 campaign.
Former New York Post reporter Murray Weiss, writing for DNAInfo.com writes that sources told him a call girl for “Millionaire Madam” Anna Gristina told investigators she had sex with Edwards for money back in 2007. Lawyers for Edwards didn’t respond to Weiss’ requests for comment but denied the report after it hit the web Thursday morning.
“Mr. Edwards categorically denies that he was involved with any prostitute or service,” Allison Van Laningham said in a statement. “These allegations are false, defamatory, and he puts those who would publish or repeat them on notice that they acting with actual malice by reporting or repeating them.”
Edwards, of course, also denied having an affair with Rielle Hunter when reports first emerged.
“The story is false,” Edwards told reporters on Oct. 11, 2007. “It’s completely untrue, ridiculous.”
Edwards is preparing for his upcoming trial for allegations he broke federal campaign finance laws by accepting money that was used to cover up his affair. Federal prosecutors said this week that they don’t want his defense team mentioning his recent health issues or the penalties he’d face if found guilty. Separately, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) ruled that the Edwards campaign must repay $2.1 million in matching funds it received during the 2008 campaign.
