Excerpts of ABC interview with Edwards

The following excerpts are from an interview by ABC News’ Bob Woodruff of former Sen. John Edwards for ABC News “Nightline” on Aug. 8.

WOODRUFF: Let me ask you the question, did you have an affair with Ms. Hunter?

EDWARDS: In 2006, two years ago, I made a very serious mistake. A mistake that I am responsible for and no one else. In 2006, I told Elizabeth about the mistake, asked her for her forgiveness, asked God for his forgiveness. And we have kept this within our family since that time. All of my family knows about this and just to be absolutely clear, none of them are responsible for it. I am responsible for it. I alone am responsible for it. And it led to this most recent incident at the Beverly Hilton. I was at the Beverly Hilton. I was there for a very simple reason, because I was trying to keep this mistake that I had made from becoming public.

WOODRUFF: I know this is a very difficult question, but were you in love with [Rielle Hunter]?

EDWARDS: I’m in love with one woman. I’ve been in love with one woman for 31 years. She is the finest human being I have ever known. And the fact that she is with me after this having happened is a testament to the kind of woman and the kind of human being she is. There is a deep and abiding love that exists between Elizabeth and myself. It’s always been there, it in my judgment has never gone away.

WOODRUFF: Your wife, Elizabeth, is probably the most admired and beloved person in this country. She’s had enormous sympathy because she’s also gone through cancer. How could you have done this?

EDWARDS: Here’s what, can I explain to you what happened? First of all, it happened during a period after she was in remission from cancer, that’s no excuse in any possible way for what happened. This is what happened. It’s what happened with me and I think happens unfortunately more often sometimes with other people. Ego. Self-focus, self-importance. Now, I was slapped down to the ground when my son Wade died in 1996, in April of 1996. But then after that I ran for the Senate and I got elected to the Senate and here we go again, it’s the same old thing again. Adulation, respect, admiration. Then I went from being a senator, a young senator, to being considered for vice president, running for president, being a vice presidential candidate and becoming a national public figure. All of which fed a self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe that you can do whatever you want. You’re invincible. And there will be no consequences. And nothing, nothing could be further from the truth.

WOODRUFF: When Elizabeth did find out about this, how has she coped? What was her reaction to that?

EDWARDS: She was mad. She was angry. I think furious would be a good way to describe it.

WOODRUFF: I need to ask about probably the most controversial allegation, which is that a report has been published that the baby of Ms. Hunter is your baby. True?

EDWARDS: Not true. Published in a supermarket tabloid. That is absolutely not true.

WOODRUFF: And that picture is absolutely you and you are holding that baby.

EDWARDS: The picture in the tabloid. I have no idea what that picture is.

WOODRUFF: But you’ve seen it, right?

EDWARDS: I did see it, and I cannot make any sense out of that. When I went to this meeting you’ve already asked me about, uh, I was not wearing a T-shirt, I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I don’t know who that picture -- I don’t know if that picture is me. It could well be, it looks like me. I don’t know who that baby is; I have no idea what that picture is.

WOODRUFF: There are reports that you have tried to cover up. They call it alleged hush money, that there was money paid to try to cover up this affair. Was there?

EDWARDS: Uh, this is what I can tell you. I’ve never paid a dime of money to any of the people that are involved. I’ve never asked anybody to pay a dime of money, never been told that any money’s been paid.