Former Senator and Presidential Candidate John Edwards’ mistress, Rielle Hunter, has finally spoken for the first time of her affair with John, his love child, baby Frances Quinn Hunter (photos), and his wife Elizabeth Edwards in an exclusive interview for the latest issue of GQ Magazine.

Rielle is speaking out now because John, who she tenderly calls “Johnny”, finally made a public statement admitting the paternity of her baby. The mistress said John was in a toxic relationship with his wife, who completely controlled (and even abused him!).

Rielle said, “They’ve been together since I was 13 years old. You know, they’ve had a life. So there is love there, but, you know, it was a toxic relationship. And very abusive. It’s interesting, though, that he allowed himself to be abused. You know, he’s no victim. But I think it had to do with having the guilt of the double life—it allowed him to accept the abuse.”

The part of the interview where Rielle explains exactly how Elizabeth controlled almost every aspect of her husband’s life and how she treated him is really interesting. John was recently accused of beating his sick wife but it seems like John was either defending himself or it was mutual domestic violence case (read more details).

Rielle claims, “I never “hit on” Johnny. I’m not a predator, I’m not a gold digger, I’m not the stalker. I didn’t have any power in that way in our relationship. He held all the power. And then, you know, um, Elizabeth’s book tour and Johnny’s interview [in August 2008 with ABC's Bob Woodruff] were devastating to me. But I also knew it didn’t mean anything.”

When John publicly said that he only loved one woman in his entire life and that woman was Elizabeth, Rielle confessed, “It was very painful. Because I had this thing in my head like a lot of women, where you want your man to stand up on a cliff and scream, “I LOVE HER.” You know, the knight in shining armor. And that wasn’t what was going on.”

John Edwards’ Mistress Rielle Hunter GQ Pictures Below

[images: GQ]