"Where are the John Edwards baby pics?" That's been the question of the hour ever since the National Enquirer first reported weeks ago that their reporters had busted the former North Carolina senator at the Beverly Hilton while visiting alleged mistress Rielle Hunter and his alleged illegitimate child at 2 a.m. It's a question no longer: this week's issue of the tabloid does indeed contain photos of Edwards holding a baby that by most accounts is his.

Enquirer editor David Perel previously told Radar that he would release the photos on his own timetable, which wouldn't be for at least a few weeks. It seems pressure from the blogosphere (and more mainstream outlets like Slate, the Washington Post, and late-night television shows) forced his hand.

ABC has supposedly been working on securing a television interview with Hunter, though a deal hasn't yet materialized. Now it's only a matter of time before both she and Edwards, as well as players such as Andrew Young, who honorably claimed paternity of the child for his boss and friend Edwards, are forced to address the scandal publicly.

Curiously enough, the pictures aren't up on the Enquirer's site, which seems to be a misstep on Perel's part, given how much Internet traffic these pics will generate. [Or so we hope. --Ed.]