Edwards Asked 100-Year-Old Heiress For Millions

John Edwards met with 100-year-old billionaire heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon just weeks before he was indicted—and asked her for millions of dollars, sources tell ABC News. The source didn’t say what Edwards wanted the money for, but the visit is sure to raise eyebrows, because Mellon is at the heart of the criminal case against Edwards. She gave him $700,000, allegedly to help conceal his relationship with Rielle Hunter; the government is arguing it was an illegal campaign contribution.

ABC’s source isn’t sure if Mellon actually forked over the money, and since Edwards isn’t running for anything, it wouldn’t be illegal if she had. Mellon’s lawyer says he was at the May 26 luncheon the two had, and described it as a “personal and social” visit. “There was no discussion of anything related to [Edwards’] situation,” he said. (More Bunny Mellon stories.)