John Edwards Socialite Supporter Bunny Mellon Says He Had A 'Hard Time With Elizabeth'
Posted on Jul 25, 2011 @ 04:50PM
By Alexis Tereszcuk - Radar Senior Reporter
The demise of John Edwards' marriage after he got his mistress pregnant was very public, and while he has never spoken ill of his late wife, one of his close friends recently said John had a "hard time" with Elizabeth.
Bunny Mellon, the extraordinarily rich benefactor whose $725,000 donations to Edwards are at the center of his federal indictment, gave her first interview in over 25 years and spoke about the Edwards' relationship.
"You know that John had a hard time with Elizabeth," Mellon told Newsweek, saying that her sympathies were always with John and not Elizabeth, who tragically died from a long battle with cancer in 2010. Mellon's lawyer Alex Folger said of his client: "She was not enamored of his wife and didn't want his wife to know that he was getting money."
Edwards' secret affair with campaign videographer Rielle Hunter was first revealed by the National Enquirer and originally denied by the presidential candidate and his wife. Another staffer, Andrew Young, claimed he was the father of Rielle's baby and she lived with his family, supported by cash donations from Mellon.
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Edwards eventually admitted he was the father of the little girl, Quinn, and he and Elizabeth separated before her death.
Edwards has been charged with six felonies alleging that he used campaign funds, cash donations given by Mellon, to cover up the affair.
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Mellon was interviewed by the FBI for her involvement but, about to turn 101 and legally blind, she is not expected to testify. Mellon still defends Edwards, and the two met at her home on May 26, before he was indicted. "He would have been a great president," she said. "He and I were great friends. Every time he'd go on a debate against Hillary, he'd call and we'd talk...I was surprised when this thing came up." He has been banned from contacting Mellon since that meeting.
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Her family is distraught by the relationship between Bunny and John. Her grandson Thomas Lloyd, who testified before the grand jury, said "I wish I could have 10 minutes in a room with John Edwards to explain that he's doing nothing but tarnishing her legacy and really taking advantage of her."
He said that Edwards is still close to his grandmother. "He's done a very good job of maintain the sense that 'Bunny, I want to be your friend; Bunny, feel sorry for me in this predicament, we'll get through this together.' I think it's awful."
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The Daily Juice
really Bunny JOHN had a hard time? mmmm wonder if it was any harder then having fatal cancer and DYING!
Posted Tue, 07/26/2011 - 9:17am
Life is hard for all of us but adultry always seems to mess people up forever and you can suffer or you can make it worse and suffer more..what a never ending mess this is
Posted Tue, 07/26/2011 - 5:38am
SOME of U, need to hold YOURSELVES accountable and quit trying to force others to act a certain way because UR the only one to believe something. Personal responsibility is notti in UR vocabulary!!!!!! I CAN hold CLASS if need be????
Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 11:03pm
"John had a hard time with Elizabeth." Excuse to cheat on her?
Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 10:41pm
The government needs to focus on the economy and the creation of US based jobs, not chasing frivolous lawsuits in a attempt to distract us from the REAL issues at hand!!!!!! WORDOID backed by FACTOIDS!
Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 10:29pm
old ppl have weird ideas how marrages r suppose to be
Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 10:21pm
The fact that anyone thought this vain peacock would be a good president is a sure sign of senility.
Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 10:03pm
elizabeth found out about the affair but still wanted him to cover it up and run for the presidency. bob, i agree with you on this topic.
Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 9:59pm
God bless John Edwards you to!
Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 9:59pm
Painting John Edwards as a monster because he had an affair is a bit over the top. If he hadn't cheated on his wife I bet this grandson of Bunny's wouldn't have a thing to say! He's just worried he won't get Grandma's $$$
Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 9:15pm