Edwards' girlfriend at grand jury hearing

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards' former girlfriend, Rielle Hunter, was in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday to testify before a grand jury, observers said.

The Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer said Hunter entered the federal courthouse Thursday morning with her daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, and was expected to give testimony to the federal grand jury investigating alleged campaign funds misuse by Edwards.

Federal prosecutors have not confirmed an investigation of Edwards is under way.

The grand jury is expected to ask Hunter if the $100,000 she was paid by Edwards' presidential campaign camp in 2006 was representative of a fair market rate for her services, the newspaper said.

Hunter, a videographer, was hired to create a series of videos showing an intimate side of the North Carolina Democrat.

Edwards, who is married, admitted in August 2008 he had an extramarital affair with Hunter. The former senator has maintained he is not the father of Frances Quinn Hunter.

The News & Observer said Andrew Young, the former Edwards aide who did claim parentage of the girl, alleged in a proposal for a tell-all book he simply claimed Frances Quinn as his own as a favor for Edwards.