A former aide and a former mistress of one-time presidential candidate John Edwards have settled a civil lawsuit between them that , among other measures , mandates the imminent destruction of sex tapes featuring Edwards and the woman . Orange County , North Carolina , Superior Court Judge Carl Fox on Thursday signed the settlement agreement between Andrew Young , his wife and Rielle Hunter , the woman who had sued the couple , according to court official Tammy Keshler . Hunter had sued Young and his wife , Cheri , for invasion of privacy seeking to reclaim materials that she said belong to her , including personal photographs and an alleged sex tape showing her with Edwards . While the settlement addresses the transfer and destruction of videos , photographs and other documents , no monetary damages were awarded and the Youngs admit no liability . The court clerk will destroy the sex tape , while the Youngs must make a good-faith effort to ensure that the copy of the video that they gave to the U.S. government is likewise destroyed , per the agreement . The former aide and his wife will get back family videos and photos , though they can not use any that include Hunter or her daughter -- whom Edwards has admitted he fathered -- for anything besides family purposes . Edwards ' fall : From golden boy to tabloid tale . Young wrote a book , `` The Politician : An Insider 's Account of John Edwards 's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down , '' in which he describes an elaborate plan to use money from two wealthy benefactors to allow Edwards to maintain a relationship with Hunter . She worked as a videographer on the failed 2008 presidential campaign of the former North Carolina senator , who was also the Democrats ' 2004 vice presidential nominee with running mate John Kerry . Plans are under way to make that book , `` The Politician , '' into a movie from Aaron Sorkin and Colvin Road Entertainment . The Youngs can use information already in the book , in court proceedings or otherwise in the public domain . But anything beyond that is prohibited by court order , and the couple can not publicize the planned film . A gag order prohibits either of the parties from discussing the settlement . The agreement does not resolve the pending criminal contempt proceedings against Young and his wife . Young 's former boss , Edwards , is scheduled to be on trial himself after being indicted last year on charges including conspiracy , issuing false statements and violating campaign contribution laws regarding donations to and payments from his presidential campaign . Edwards ' pending criminal trial . Edwards denies any wrongdoing . Whether the money given to support Hunter by Edwards ' benefactors -- as alleged by Young in his book -- should have been considered campaign donations is a key issue in Edwards ' upcoming trial . The ex-senator 's legal team has disputed that notion , maintaining the money was a gift to Hunter . If convicted on all counts , Edwards could face 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $ 1.5 million .
John Edwards ' ex-mistress had sued his former aide for invasion of privacy . A settlement between them was reached and signed Thursday by a N.C. judge . Copies of a sex tape showing the ex-mistress and Edwards will be destroyed . The aide and his wife admit no liability , and there is no monetary settlement .