Sanford: I have been unfaithful to my wife
Last Updated on 3/16/2010
Published on 6/24/2009
Written by Schuyler Kropf, Post and Courier
COLUMBIA -Gov. Mark Sanford went to Argentina as part of a long-running extra-marital affair with a woman he met eight years ago, he admitted today, but declined to comment on whether he planned to resign over his infidelity.
"The bottom line is that I have been unfaithful to my wife," he told a crowded press conference, choking back tears. When asked if he was alone in Argentina, he answered "obviously not."
He said he and his wife, Jenny, "in a formal sense" are not separated, and that she and her family knew of the affair.
Jenny Sanford issued a statement this afternoon saying her husband deserved a chance to resurrect the marriage. She also said she asked him to move out two weeks ago because "We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong."
The governor's admission today further expands a bizarre story that changed - and was allowed to stand incorrect - that he had decided to walk the Appalachian Trail after a difficult duel with the Legislature over accepting $700 million in stimulus money.
"I want to apologize to my staff, and to anybody who lives in South Carolina," he said before describing how the relationship grew. The woman is married and the parent of two sons, he said.
"It began on a very casual basis," he said of the woman, whom he met some eight years ago.
"We developed a remarkable friendship over those eight years," he said, adding that about a year ago, the relationship escalated.
"It went into serious overdrive," he said, though he added "I am committed to get my heart right."
He said he will resign his post as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, though walked away from the podium before answering questions about his political future and running the state.
RGA Executive Director Nick Ayers said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has assumed the role of chairman.
"While I am personally disappointed in today's revelation, I also know that it’s important for both Governor Sanford and the RGA to move forward as quickly as possible. Therefore we accepted his resignation this afternoon," Ayers said.
South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued a statement following Gov. Sanford's press conference.
"Today's revelations are disturbing and shocking. There is no excuse for the unfortunate events that have transpired in recent days. The personal issues must be sorted out by the Sanford family and we hope for the best for them during this most difficult time," he said.
"For five days the governor let his staff deceive the press and the people of South Carolina regarding where he was and what he was doing. The governor's absence has brought to light some issues regarding the chain of command in the absence of the chief executive. It is imperative that the General Assembly deal with this during the next session," Harrell said in the statement.
"More importantly, we must focus on our state's economy and improving education. With our unemployment rate as the third worst in the country, our time has to be devoted to getting unemployed South Carolinians back to work, improving education and growing our state's economy."
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Wayne, Wayne, Wayne...I just read your post on Michael Jackson's death. You say to those without faults to cast the first stones, however you are sure having no problem hurling them at Sanford! Why the double standard...all have faults. Posted by on 6/29/2009 |
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If it was a democrat nobody would even be disappointed, they don't even claim to have morals in most cases. lol Posted by on 6/27/2009 |
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The sad part of all of this will be listening to those who passed mounds of judgment on Clinton, including Sanford, that will now be saying we should let them work it out, they need privacy, blah blah blah.. I did not defend Clinton's actions back then but I felt the impeachment process was a bit over the top. My memory has also been refreshed of the HIGH MORAL ground Sanford took in his persecution of Clinton. Let us all remember Matthew 7:1 Do not attempt to pull the log out of your neighbors eye until you have first pulled the log out of your own eye. The jist being JUDGE NOT and you don't have to worry about being JUDGED yourself.............. Posted by Lee Padgett on 6/25/2009 |
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I loved the opening of his speech about it being a tough emotional battle over the stimulus money---like that drove him to run away and leave us without leadership, his wife without a husband, and his children without a father. How emotionally stressful is it for the teachers in Georgetown county who lost their jobs because he wouldn't accept the money to save them. While I understand they have now been placed in positions, I believe the stress they felt while they thought they were unemployed trumped his---and none of them ran off to Argentina for a tryst with their "long-time family friend." They were home explaining to their children why they couldn't go to summer camp, why they would have no vacation this year....Get real Sanford! Emotionally drained...my butt. Posted by BigMomma on 6/24/2009 |
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so where are the folks who had so much tough talk about tax dollars and Obama's date night and family time overseas? I remember hearing you wax poetically about the first family's travel at a time when America;s economy was in shambled. Perhaps Sanford and Ensign should have paid attention. What do you feel about your local leader being unfaithful to those he hold most dear and the tax dollars wasted on travel and the risk off abandoned leadership. And I don't want to hear any talk about "it's a private matter". That card was taken off the table after date night and the European travel. Where are the "waste of tax dollars...show me the reimbursement" crowd? Does the cat have your tongue? Or are you too busy chewing on your crow burger? Posted by Wayne on 6/24/2009 |
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Another person with the power to influence life’s and yet he is as weak as they come. It is pathetic that Sanford makes all the noise about the stimulus money and yet he is a two face liar to the SC people. It is not a private matter as he is an elected official, should be scrutinized for thinking of himself and forgetting his boys on fathers day. He is accountable to the people of SC and deserves all the flack he gets. Every time a high profile person has an affair they make excuses and they ask for privacy. Well that’s not good enough. Posted by on 6/24/2009 |
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The affair is a private matter and should be kept as such. He and his family could have worked throuhg this issue alone. The fact that he dissapeared and created a big drama is another matter and shows a clear lack of judgement on his part. Posted by on 6/24/2009 |
