Andrew Young (political operative)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Aldridge Young was a key staff member in the John Edwards 2008 presidential campaign
. Young came to prominence via a scandal
in which he claimed paternity
of Rielle Hunter
's child born on February 27, 2008. John Edwards
had admitted a past affair
with Hunter, but denied paternity of the baby even though Edwards was in fact the father. Young has since renounced that statement. In his book The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down
, he claims that Edwards knew all along that he was the child’s father, but pleaded with him to accept responsibility.
.
On January 21, 2010, John Edwards admitted that he was Quinn's father.
as Hunter when the story broke in late 2007. The development is known as "Governor's Club." The Youngs and Hunter moved to California shortly thereafter, where Hunter's child was born.
Young is the son of the Robert T. Young (1935–2009), a Methodist minister who held positions at churches in Asheville, Boone, Statesville and at Duke Chapel, all in North Carolina; his uncle is the author Perry Deane Young
.
Young is a 1984 graduate of C.E. Jordan High School in Durham, NC where he was a Captain of the HS football team.
, though he is not a licensed lawyer.
John Edwards presidential campaign, 2008
John Edwards is the former United States Senator from North Carolina and was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004. On December 28, 2006, he announced his entry into the 2008 Presidential election in the city of New Orleans near sites devastated by Hurricane Katrina...
. Young came to prominence via a scandal
John Edwards extramarital affair
The John Edwards extramarital affair refers to the extramarital affair admitted to in August 2008 by John Edwards, a former United States Senator from North Carolina and Democratic Party presidential candidate...
in which he claimed paternity
Paternity (law)
In law, paternity is the legal acknowledgment of the parental relationship between a man and a child usually based on several factors.At common law, a child born to the wife during a marriage is the husband's child under the "presumption of legitimacy", and the husband is assigned complete rights,...
of Rielle Hunter
Rielle Hunter
Rielle Hunter , August 1, 2008, San Jose Mercury-News. is an American actress and film producer. She is known for having had an affair with and conceiving a child with 2004 Democratic Party vice-presidential nominee John Edwards., August 8, 2008, Chicago Tribune. She is said to be the basis of a...
's child born on February 27, 2008. John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
had admitted a past affair
John Edwards extramarital affair
The John Edwards extramarital affair refers to the extramarital affair admitted to in August 2008 by John Edwards, a former United States Senator from North Carolina and Democratic Party presidential candidate...
with Hunter, but denied paternity of the baby even though Edwards was in fact the father. Young has since renounced that statement. In his book The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down
The Politician (book)
The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down is a 2010 tell-all book by Andrew Young chronicling over a decade working behind the scenes with former North Carolina senator and presidential candidate John Edwards...
, he claims that Edwards knew all along that he was the child’s father, but pleaded with him to accept responsibility.
Paternity scandal
Through his attorney, Pamela J. Marple, Andrew Young publicly claimed fatherhood of Rielle Hunter's daughter Quinn in December, 2007. Young later denied this, claiming Edwards was indeed the father and his original claim of paternity was part of a cover-upCover-up
A cover-up is an attempt, whether successful or not, to conceal evidence of wrong-doing, error, incompetence or other embarrassing information...
.
On January 21, 2010, John Edwards admitted that he was Quinn's father.
Family life
Young married Cheri Young in 1999 and they have young children. The Young family lived in the same housing development in Chatham County, North CarolinaChatham County, North Carolina
Chatham County is a county located in the Piedmont area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Its county seat is Pittsboro.-History:...
as Hunter when the story broke in late 2007. The development is known as "Governor's Club." The Youngs and Hunter moved to California shortly thereafter, where Hunter's child was born.
Young is the son of the Robert T. Young (1935–2009), a Methodist minister who held positions at churches in Asheville, Boone, Statesville and at Duke Chapel, all in North Carolina; his uncle is the author Perry Deane Young
Perry Deane Young
Perry Deane Young is a journalist, author, playwright, historian, and professional gardener. He is the author of Two of the Missing, about fellow journalists Sean Flynn and Dana Stone, who went missing during the Vietnam War and whose fates remain unknown, and the co-author of The David Kopay...
.
Young is a 1984 graduate of C.E. Jordan High School in Durham, NC where he was a Captain of the HS football team.
Career
Young has worked for the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. He registered as a lobbyist in 1999. He is a graduate of the Wake Forest University School of LawWake Forest University School of Law
The Wake Forest University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Wake Forest University. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University School of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American...
, though he is not a licensed lawyer.
Publications
- The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him DownThe Politician (book)The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down is a 2010 tell-all book by Andrew Young chronicling over a decade working behind the scenes with former North Carolina senator and presidential candidate John Edwards...
, Thomas Dunne Books, 2010