John Edwards’ former aide says he’s spurned offers for tape showing Edwards with ex-mistress

Edwards’ ex-aide says rejects big offers for tape

RALEIGH, N.C. — A former aide to two-time presidential candidate John Edwards said he’s received and rejected offers of “gigantic amounts of money” to sell what he says is a sex tape showing Edwards with his former mistress.

Andrew Young claimed in a book released last week that he found the tape in a box left in a home he and his wife had shared with Edward’s mistress, videographer Rielle Hunter.

“I could not have told this story without including this sex tape,” Young said in interview that aired Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” ”We’ve been offered gigantic amounts of money and we’ve said no.”

Young has said he kept the tape along with phone messages from Edwards to back up his account of what he saw as he helped Edwards cover up the affair and a resulting child. Edwards’ lawyers have accused Young of writing “The Politician” for financial gain, which Young denies.

Hunter last week won a temporary restraining order in a North Carolina court demanding Young return a 2006 video “of a very private and personal nature.” She also has filed a lawsuit against Young and his wife, seeking a jury trial and damages for invasion of privacy.

Edwards only last month admitted paternity of Hunter’s daughter, who is nearly 2. He and wife, Elizabeth, are now separated.

Deputies said in court documents filed Friday that they went to Young’s home to try and recover the tapes and personal photographs of Hunter. After some discussion, Young’s attorney told authorities that he could not immediately turn over the tape.

Young was asked Monday whether he planned to relinquish the videotape as Hunter demanded.

“I’m going to let my lawyers handle that,” he said.