Last Updated on 3/20/2010

Published on 7/2/2009
Written by Scott Harper

Last week, when Gov. Mark Sanford admitted to a tryst with a woman from Argentina, there were some calls for his resignation but the groundswell did not hit until this week.
In a long and rambling interview with the Associated Press this week, Sanford went into surprising detail concerning his affair and feelings about Maria Belen Chapur.
In another portion of the interview, Sanford admitted Chapur and his wife, Jenny, have not been the only women in his life in recent years.
“There were a handful of instances wherein I crossed the lines I shouldn't have crossed as a married man, but never crossed the ultimate line,” Sanford told the AP, meaning he never had sex with any of those women.
Locally, State Rep. Vida Miller, a Democrat, is now joining the growing list of lawmakers urging Sanford to resign.
She said Sanford’s continued admissions have “cast an ominous shadow over the state” and his actions “have left us effectively leaderless, and with no way to tackle the mounting problems we were already facing.”
Miller, not using the word impeachment, said “it is imperative that other leaders of our state government take immediate action to restore our ability to govern.”

Not jumping on the
bandwagon

Even though a majority of the state’s GOP senators are now on the record calling for Sanford to resign, Republican Sen. Ray Cleary of Murrells Inlet said he is “not ready to jump on the bandwagon” at this time.
As of Thursday, 14 of the state’s 27 Republican senators are seeking Sanford’s resignation.
Cleary told the Times he spoke by phone with the governor on Wednesday but would not give specific details about that conversation.
“I feel after talking with him, he needs some time to himself,” Cleary said.
He said Sanford told him he “bared his soul” in the AP interview “maybe more than he should have.”
Cleary said even though he feels Sanford is “in emotional distress” he believes he is capable of handling a crisis if one should arise within the state.
“But, I am worried about him. He needs to get back to who he is. I feel he is in a lot of emotional turmoil right now,” Cleary said.
Cleary said the important thing is for Sanford to work on his family but feels that is almost impossible for him to do while remaining in office because of the media spotlight.
He said he will not publicly call for a resignation until all the facts are in the open but he feels there is a “50-50 chance” Sanford will decide to resign.
He said he believes the 1st Cogressional District, which has always been Sanford’s main support base, will be the determining factor. If most of those constituents call for a resignation, Cleary feels Sanford would honor that request.

Not leaving

Despite the demands that he resign, Sanford says he is not leaving office.
"The governor has no plans to step aside, temporarily or otherwise," his spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said Thursday. "He remains committed and determined to repair the damage he has done in his marriage and to building back the trust of the people of South Carolina."

SLED’s findings

Cleary said he was glad Attorney General Henry McMaster ordered an investigation of Sanford’s travel to determine if any tax payer funds paid for any of Sanford’s trips to see Chapur.
At a press conference Thursday, SLED Director Reggie Lloyd said his agency reviewed records of Sanford’s trips to Argentina where he met with Chapur.
He said investigators “found no improper use of public funds.”
The main trip studied was a 2008 South Carolina Department of Commerce trip to South America.
Lloyd called the trip “legitimate” saying Sanford “conducted business on behalf of the state during that trip.”
He said there is no evidence that a crime has been committed.

Records released

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said late Thursday:
“We're pleased that SLED has concluded its review, which confirms what we've said from day one * no public money was used in relation to the governor's admitted marital infidelity. This issue is behind us once and for all.
“Now that SLED has finished its review, we believe it appropriate to also release the governor's personal travel records to the media, so that there can be full and complete disclosure and transparency.”

McMaster comments

Following the SLED press conference, the Attorney General released this statement:
"This office will review SLED's official report when it is received. I see no reason to doubt SLED's conclusions, their professionalism, or objectivity.
“Maintaining public trust, complete transparency, and full public disclosure is vitally important,”McMaster continued.
“That is why today I called on Governor Sanford to immediately release his travel records to the media and public as promised.
“The people of this state have twice elected me Attorney General.
“Rightfully so, they expect me to make the right calls regardless of the political considerations. I will not duck or abuse my constitutional responsibilities merely to satisfy those who seek a politically motivated fishing expedition."