John Edwards Denies Report On Anna Gristina Prostitute, Demands Retraction Of Story

On Thursday, John Edwards denied claims that he had hired a hooker from the so-called Soccer Mom Madam, Anna Gristina, during a visit to New York.

One of Edward's lawyers, Allison Van Laningham, said that the reports were false and unsubstantiated.

Mr. Edwards categorically denies that he was involved with any prostitute or service, Van Laningham said in a statement, reported USA Today. These allegations are false, defamatory, and he puts those who would publish or repeat them on notice that they acting with actual malice by reporting or repeating them,

Edwards and his staff also demanded that the DNAInfo, the online publication that first reported the information, retract the story.

DNAInfo reported that one of Gristina's alleged prostitutes spoke with Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance's office and named the 58-year-old former senator as a client.

Edward's alleged one-night stand with a prostitute took place at an Upper East Side hotel suite. It was arranged by an aide with assistance provided by a New Yorker familiar with Gristina's prostitution ring.

Most of the women don't have any idea about the identities of the men they sleep with. How would they know a money man from Wall Street or the face of a lawyer or banker who shows up? a source told DNA Info. But the face of the national politician? She knew.

The hooker reportedly detailed a first-hand account with her alleged sexual encounter with Edwards to authorities.

Investigators reportedly found the information from the woman credible. They were able to positively determine that Edwards was in New York on a fund-raising tour at the time of the alleged encounter with Gristina's prostitute.

It was also reported that the encounter took place in an Upper West Side hotel room, that Edwards paid for with campaign funds.

Murray Weis, the DNAInfo reporter who wrote the article, broke the story about Gristina's multimillion dollar prostitution scheme. His article that appeared on the website on Thursday is based on unnamed sources.

Edwards is currently facing a federal trial in North Carolina. He allegedly used nearly $1 million in campaign fund to cover up an affair that resulted in the birth of an illegitimate child.

Gristina was arrested last month for allegedly running a prostitution ring. Many of her clients were allegedly wealthy, politically connected individuals, including allegations of a Morgan Stanley Executive, David Walker.