Edward used campaign money to cover-up of illicit affair?

Washington, May. 4 (ANI): Former Senator John Edwards did not only act immorally when he cheated on his dying wife with a campaign staffer, but he also used campaign money to cover up his illicit affair.

According to the federal investigators, the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate may have paid off mistress Rielle Hunter by siphoning off cash from his campaign war chest or programs he set up to help the poor.

In February 2008, just as the affair was hitting the headlines, Hunter gave birth to a daughter. Her sister claimed the child was Edwards' and that he paid to keep the unemployed videographer away from reporters.

After many denials, the North Carolina Democrat finally admitted to the affair, but not to paternity. A married campaign staffer, Andrew Young, said he was the father.

Edwards was forced out of the 2008 race by the tawdry revelation that he had begun his race while cheating on his wife, Elizabeth, who has stage four breast cancer.

New York based attorney George Holding is investigating the case on the suspicion that some of Edwards' campaign money may have been used to pay Hunter or Young.

Former Edwards donors told the Charlotte Observer they were disgusted that he might have used their cash to carry on or hush up a fling, the Daily News reports.

"If they were stealing money to cover up John's personal failings, it is profoundly disappointing. My heart goes out to Elizabeth Edwards. I am sorry this is how she has to spend her last days on earth and how their children will remember their father," said attorney Jim Finberg.

Edwards' former campaign finance director, Fred Baron, said he bought Hunter a house in California and also made payments to Young. Hunter was paid 114,000 dollars by Edwards' political action committee to film mini-documentaries. Baron died last year.

Campaign finance laws bar candidates from spending donations on personal expenses.

"I am confident that no funds from my campaign were used improperly. We have made available to the United States both the people and the information necessary to help them get the issue resolved efficiently and in a timely matter," Edward stated in a newspaper report. (ANI)