John Edwards Affair Hush Money Laundered Through YouTube?

Henry Blodget | August 8, 2008 4:23 PM

Picture 19.pngJohn Edwards' political action committee paid his mistress, Rielle Hunter, $114,000--ostensibly to produce four short web videos for the campaign, ABC News reports. Given that Edwards has now finally admitted he had an affair with Hunter (and, according to the National Enquirer, which first broke the affair story, fathered a "love child"), it's possible that this is the first instance of hush money essentially being laundered through YouTube.

Also notable: Rielle Hunter may be the best-paid web video producer in the business. AP:

In 2006, Edwards' political action committee paid $100,000 in a four-month span to a newly formed firm run by Hunter, who directed the production of just four Web videos, one a mere 2 1/2 minutes long.

riellehunter.jpgThe payments from Edwards' One America Committee to Midline Groove Productions LLC started on July 5, 2006, five days after Hunter incorporated the firm in Delaware.

Midline provided "Website/Internet services," according to reports that Edwards' PAC filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Midline's work product consists of four YouTube videos showing Edwards in informal settings as he prepares to make speeches in Storm Lake, Iowa, and Pittsburgh, as he prepares for an appearance on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" and travels in Uganda in 2006.

Edwards' PAC followed the six-figure payment with two smaller payments totaling $14,461, the last on April 1, 2007.

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23 Comments

Peter I. (URL) said:
I hope this number isn't too shocking since this is pretty much in the ballpark of what a lot of video producers would charge for four "viral videos" to be posted on YouTube. Just because something can be done cheaper doesn't mean that it normally is.

I love how out of touch the media is with how much marketing costs. You'd think the two were unrelated.
stone said:
I normally don't criticize you on how you conduct your business but I have to say that bringing YouTube into this story is a real stretch. Sorry --- had to say it.
Anton said:
re: costs

Let's remember he lost (in fact was creamed)... yes people charge that amount but the smart ones don't pay it (or have to).

Gordon said:
typical liberal hypocrisy.
Jam On said:
Right on Gordon, just like Gingrich and DeLay!
Fair enough, Stone! So startled had to write about it. We'll replace with meat soon...
Terry said:
It might be a standard price that a 'lot of video producers' would change but what about someone with no experience or talent?

Nice spin though, Peter.
PZ said:
This assumes a pretty skeletal definition of money laundering. Come on, Henry, you can do better. You're basically just using the YouTube name for a juicy headline.
Dave said:
There is clearly wrong doing take place here.

$28,500 per video is WAY ABOVE market average. I know the going rates for professional video production - should cost no more than $5K per video. There can be some variance but $5K is already on the high end. For example, 60Frames, a short-form internet video producer typically makes their episodes in the $5K - $6K range. Edwards paying this much is ludicrous. Peter is clearly compromised or maybe even the genius that authorized the payments - HA!

* 60frames is a venture backed startup that was incubated at talent agency UTA. I am not an employee.
Sid Feinberg said:
This is the fault of GW Bush. $4 a gallon gas, an imploded stock market, Real Estate collapse, and the inflation of a 3rd world country. These pressures led Dr Edwards to his lapse in judgement. Fathering a chid and an affair are much less severe than the llies Bush has told us.
Dave said:
Looks like the commentary is more lively on Fark.com (they linked to this article a couple of days ago).

http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=3791381
southcarolinaguy said:
Peter I.
Not sure who you've been working with, but as someone who has written national ad campaigns, that $100k figure for 4 web videos is $80k over budget. The beauty of the web is that you don't have to have a polished video. Hell, I know 12 year olds who could shoot those videos.


Jerry (URL) said:
It's not just YouTube. The John Edwards/Rielle Hunter videos have also been available on Webcastr.com since the sex scandal drums began beating last November in the Huffington Post. Views go up and down dramatically as news bits about the story emerge over time. You can read more about it here:

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=Webcastr.com+Breaks+John+Edwards+/+Rielle+Hunter+Videos+on+the+Web&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8




Lou said:
Plain and simple, if this was hush money he needs to go to jail. I dont care about the affair, I care that he broke a law.
Gordon said:
where's the secret SEX TAPE????????????

what does the MILF SPITZER have to say about all of this?

typical hypocrite liberals.

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krystle (URL) said:
John Edwards Affair Hush Money Laundered Through YouTube?70-431Bullshit. I don't know him well.
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