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Edwards Backer Paid Mistress to Move

Prominent donor said he acted on his own to banish Hunter

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 9, 2008 4:40 PM CDT

(Newser) – A former Democratic Party official said yesterday that he paid John Edwards' ex-mistress to leave North Carolina, the Dallas Morning News reports. Fred Baron, a Dallas lawyer who led the party finance committee for 4 years, said he was trying to keep Rielle Hunter from tabloid reporters. “I made a decision on my own, without talking to Edwards or anybody, to try to help them move to a community to try to get away from those folks,” said Baron.

Edwards said during a television interview that he knew nothing about the payments. Baron, a frequent Democratic donor, said he used his own money, not campaign funds, to send Hunter packing—but did not say how much. “I feel sad because I know John Edwards so well,” he said. “John Edwards is an extraordinary human being who made an egregious error.”

In this image made from video and provided by Chuck Olsen, Rielle Hunter films John Edwards after a rally in New Hampshire on Friday, Dec. 29, 2006.
In this image made from video and provided by Chuck Olsen, Rielle Hunter films John Edwards after a rally in New Hampshire on Friday, Dec. 29, 2006.   (AP Photo/Chuck Olsen)
A commuter holds a copy of the National Enquirer in New York's Penn Station Friday Aug. 8, 2008 headlining a story on John Edwards having an extramarital affair while his wife was battling cancer.
A commuter holds a copy of the National Enquirer in New York's Penn Station Friday Aug. 8, 2008 headlining a story on John Edwards having an extramarital affair while his wife was battling cancer.   (AP Photo/Ed Ou)
Rielle Hunter is shown during an interview in this undated file photo.
Rielle Hunter is shown during an interview in this undated file photo.   (AP Photo/Extra)
Former Democratic presidential hopeful, John Edwards, drinks during a conference at the American Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, June 5, 2008.
Former Democratic presidential hopeful, John Edwards, drinks during a conference at the American Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, June 5, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Journalists photograph a car leaving former U.S. Sen. John Edwards from North Carolina home Friday, Aug. 8, 2008 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Journalists photograph a car leaving former U.S. Sen. John Edwards from North Carolina home Friday, Aug. 8, 2008 in Chapel Hill, N.C.   (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
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