Couple must give up video by Wednesday or spend 75 days in jail

BY BETH VELLIQUETTE

bvelliquette@heraldsun.com; 419-6632

PITTSBORO -- Andrew and Cheri Young must turn over a videotape reportedly showing John Edwards and Rielle Hunter engaged in sexual activities to the court by next Wednesday at 2 p.m. or they will go to jail for 75 days, according to a judge's order released Friday evening.

The Youngs appeared in Chatham County Superior Court on Friday morning, and N.C. Superior Court Judge Abraham Penn Jones found them in contempt of court for failing to turn over the tape, along with two other videotapes and eight personal photographs that Hunter claims belong to her.

However, Jones told the couple they could purge themselves from being jailed if they turn the items over by next Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court.

In an affidavit from Andrew Young that was released late Friday afternoon, he said a copy of the videotape was in the hands of the FBI. He also mentioned a paper titled "Slut Club," and said he would turn that over to the court also.

Hunter obtained a temporary restraining order from Jones last Thursday, and in it Jones ordered the Youngs to turn over the items. But when an Orange County sheriff's deputy went to their home to retrieve them, Andrew Young did not give the deputy any of the items.

In the affidavit, Young said the tape known as the Edwards Tape, and possibly a copy of it and the two campaign videos, are located in a safety deposit box in Atlanta, Ga.

To access the safety deposit box, two keys are required. One of the keys is in possession of Atlanta attorney Glenn Sturm, who is receiving medical treatment in New York, which limits his ability to travel, Young said in his affidavit.

Young also said in the affidavit that he sent a copy of the Edwards tape to his attorney, David Geneson, to deliver to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a grand jury.

Edwards is reportedly under federal investigation for the possible misuse of campaign funds to help keep Hunter under wraps while she was pregnant.

According to Young, when the National Enquirer first published a story saying Hunter was pregnant with Edwards' baby, Edwards asked Young to claim he was the father, and the Youngs and Hunter went into hiding.

It was just recently that Edwards admitted he fathered the child.

The eight photographs "made by Hunter of March 19-21" are on his laptop computer located in Raleigh, and no copies were given to anyone else, Andrew Young's affidavit said.

Although Hunter did not ask for and the temporary restraining order did not mention any papers, Young said in his affidavit, "I believe that I am still in possession of the paper entitled the 'Slut Club'. If I am, that paper is located either in Raleigh or Atlanta, and I will provide it to the Court. I have no other copy and no copy has been given to anyone else."

He gave no other explanation to what was on the "Slut Club" paper.

Cheri Young also produced an affidavit that was similar to her husband's.

Young appeared on the "Sean Hannity Show" radio broadcast Thursday and told Hannity that he would not release the sex tape unless someone put a gun to his head. Young apparently changed his mind when faced with jail time, saying in the affidavit, he would turn all the items over to the judge, who assured him they would be sealed and kept under lock and key until the issue of who actually owns them is resolved.

Hunter claims she left the items in a hatbox, but Young claims Hunter abandoned the items, and they now belong to him.

In his written order, Jones noted while the Youngs failed to turn over the items as ordered, it was obvious they knew about the judge's order to appear in court.

"Andrew Young has appeared in multiple nationally-broadcast interviews, sometimes also with his wife, Cheri Young, promoting Andrew Young's book, 'The Politician.' In some of these interviews, Defendants have been asked about and have discussed the instant lawsuit and the TRO," the judge's order stated.

During the hearing Friday morning, Jones advised the Youngs they should put their focus on retrieving the items during the next four or five days.

After the hearing, Young said, "I'm glad the court is going to handle the material until it's resolved."