Unfaithful Gov. To Pay State For 2008 Trip

Mark Sanford Fights For Job Amid Scandal, Says He'll Reimburse S.C. For Trip Where He Saw Mistress

(CBS/AP)  South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he will reimburse the state for an economic development trip he took to Argentina last year during which he met with his mistress.

The Republican said in a statement Thursday that he visited with the woman during the trade mission to Brazil and Argentina last June. Sanford said he "made a mistake" in seeing the woman while in Argentina.

State Commerce Department records indicate more than $8,000 was spent in airfare, lodging and meals. The governor's statement does not say how much he will pay back.

Meanwhile, Sanford faced legal and ethical questions Thursday as he fought to save his job after admitting the extramarital affair.

The state's top senator questioned whether Sanford broke the law when he disappeared for several days on trip to South America and didn't transfer power to the lieutenant governor.

"I would think that if the evidence indicates that there is a willful effort to circumvent the constitution, I think there would be a chorus of calls for him to resign," said state Sen. Glenn McConnell, a fellow Republican.

McConnell said Sanford needed to answer questions about whether taxpayer money was used, but stopped short of calling for an investigation. Sanford's spokesman has said no state resources were used during the affair.

On Thursday, Sanford was with his family at their beach home on Sullivans Island, spokesman Joel Sawyer said. First lady Jenny Sanford and the couple's four sons have been staying at the house.

Sanford's wife Jenny was not with him when he admitted at a news conference Wednesday that he had been having an affair and was in Argentina during his unexplained absence. Both have said they plan to try to reconcile.

Jenny Sanford said late Thursday that her cheating husband can worry about his own career. She is concerning herself with their four sons.

She said she's taking things one day at a time and appeared upbeat and laughed when stopping to talk with media. She said she was taking her sons out to dinner and on a boat ride.

Sawyer says Sanford has spent the last two days touching base with other elected officials and has personally apologized to his staff.

Many critics say his worst political offense was leaving the state without a word, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella. On the street many voters are furious.

"I think it's a disgrace," Carol Coddy told Cobiella. "I think he ought to be ashamed of himself. I think he's an embarrassment to our country."

"I don't think he really deserve the office," Melvin Belton said. "I pray for him, but I've lost confidence."

Sanford was a three-term U.S. House of Representatives veteran who once cited "moral legitimacy" when he was a congressman voting for President Bill Clinton's impeachment in the 1990s. As governor he's become a darling of fiscal conservatives over his ideological opposition to federal stimulus cash.

Now Sanford has taken a swan dive from the moral high ground.

By admitting to an extramarital affair, the Republican governor makes the already-difficult end of his term-limited administration nearly untenable.

He has alienated leaders of his Republican-dominated state Legislature for years, but said recently he was finding comfort outside the Statehouse as a champion for smaller government and lower taxes.

He was raising his national political profile with his outspoken fight against using federal cash for anything but paying down debt. As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, he was raising money for candidates and deflecting talk he was planning to run for president in 2012.

The speed of his collapse was shocking. Even his former chief of staff and friend of 30 years, state Sen. Tom Davis, said he didn't know about the affair until Wednesday.

"I think that South Carolinians, in particular Americans, have tremendous capacity for forgiveness. That said, they can also recognize hypocrisy. I think the tale of the tape will be the next few days, whether or not Governor Sanford is sincere in his repentance," Davis told ABC television on Thursday.

About three weeks ago, Sanford lost a court battle to reject the federal stimulus money. A few days later, his wife kicked him out of their home to begin a "trial separation" with hopes of reconciling.

Then on Monday, lawmakers and reporters started questioning where the governor had been for five days. His aides said the outdoorsman was on a hiking trip in the eastern U.S. to wind down from a grueling legislative session.

But on Wednesday the governor held a rambling, tearful news conference in which he finally revealed the truth: "I've been unfaithful to my wife." His family did not attend.

The 49-year-old ruminated on God's law, moral absolutes and following one's heart. He said he spent the last five days "crying in Argentina."

Sanford described the woman who lives in Argentina as a "dear, dear friend" whom he has known for about eight years and been romantically involved with for about a year. He said he has seen her three times since the affair began, and his wife found out about it five months ago.

The Argentine woman has been identified by South American media outlets as Maria Belen Chapur, a 43-year-old divorcee with two sons. (She has also been identified by the name María Belén Shapur, a slightly different spelling.)

According to various media reports, Chapur is well educated and attractive and speaks multiple languages. Though Argentine media reported that Chapur works for an agriculture company, that appears to have been inaccurate, as The Post and Courier reports.

Sanford denied instructing his staff to cover up his affair, but acknowledged that he told them he thought he would be on a hiking trip in the U.S. and never corrected that impression after leaving for South America.

"I let them down by creating a fiction with regard to where I was going," Sanford said. "I said that was the original possibility. Again, this is my fault in ... shrouding this larger trip."

The State newspaper in Columbia published steamy e-mails between Sanford and the woman. Sanford did not identify her, nor did he answer directly whether the relationship with the Argentinian woman was over.

"What I did was wrong. Period," he said.

Now the people of South Carolina and national Republican leaders are picking up the pieces.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour took over leadership of the Republican Governors Association after Stanford resigned from the post. In little more than an hour after his announcement, other Republicans were backing away from him: the Value Voters Summit dropped him from the lineup for its September roundup of Republican notables.

Political experts expect little from his last 18 months in office, and certainly not with the Legislature he's fought with for years.

"Truth be told, over the past few years, he has soured his relationship with the Legislature so much that he hasn't been particularly effective at getting an agenda through," said Scott Huffmon, political scientist at Winthrop University.

For now, Sanford's looking at the basics.

"Over the time that I have left in office, I'm going to devote my energy to building back the trust the people of this state have placed in me," Sanford said.

It will be a tall task. While some South Carolinians said they appreciated Sanford's eventual candor in admitting to his affair, the tawdry news surprised many.

"I was shocked, shocked," said Tom Daly, 42, a magazine editor in Charleston. "First of all he's a Republican golden boy and he's a strict, staunch conservative."

As Sanford awaits the political fallout, longtime friend and political aide Tom Davis said he thinks the governor can weather the storm, saying South Carolinians had a "tremendous capacity for forgiveness."

"Now, I think the South Carolina people also have a fine nose for hypocrisy," Davis said on CBS' The Early Show Thursday. "So the next few days are going to tell the tale about whether or not governor sanford is sincere in terms of taking responsibility for his actions, and the pain he's caused the people."

[robrob791]

Pity poor Micheal Jaskson being butchered as we speak by the people preforming the autopsy to see why he passed and u people are worried about some political mis-fit getting laid on the taxpayers dime.

[omnibus66]

At one time I worked for the federal government, and it was made abundantly clear to me that any misuse of funds would lead to dismissal and CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. So, with that in mind, why has this guy not been arrested? A coworker of mine was fired for a less than $5.00 discrepancy in an expense account.

With behavior like this occurring on almost a daily basis from elected representatives, it is no wonder that more and more people are developing disrespect and contempt for government.

[formrusmcsgt]

The man is a proven cheat and thief as well.

How he could be considered to be fit to govern is entirely beyond me.

[ozilot]

Remember everyone we are talking about South Carolina...all Sanford did was to live up to the standards of his RED STATE!

And if South Carolinians can't see for themselves that Sanford, as commander-in-chief of his state's national guard was AWOL, without transferring power to the lieutenant governor to hide is extra-marital affair, spending state taxpayers' money (I wonder if he will reimburse the state for lost interest) for his illicit actions while he refused to accept the stimulus money for the schools and other services, and made a complete mockery of the "sacred institution of marriage" while denying others of right to get married...well all I got to say is...what do you expect from the South?!?!?!?

[bradkt1]

I believe that leaders who are truly religious and moral don't have to wear it on their sleeve for all to see. They lead by example and their actions speak louder than words ever will. That's why I have never trusted any politician who postured himself in this manner. It just so happens that a number of Republicans (not all) are the ones who chose to go that route. That was the final straw that turned me completely off to them.

I don't take any joy at someone's moral failings. They just reinforce my belief that most politicians (from both major parties) are only out for themselves and will basically say or do anything to get you to vote for them. You don't have to tell me how "moral" you are...just walk the walk and I'll respect that. That goes for both Democrats and Republicans.

Do what Bill Clinton and some of these others did and I'll call you an idiot. Do what Sanford and Ensign did...after telling me how "moral" you are...and I'll call you a liar, a hypocrite and an idiot.

That's how I see it.

[toldyouso29]

Great post--totally agree with it except all people who cheat are liars. Because to "cheat" and hide it from your spouse and others requires lies--in actions as well as words. To "lie" is to deceive or attempt to deceive--all cheaters are liars by dint of one having to not be living up to morals and cheating in the first place. One must lie in order to cheat -, lie about where one has been or who with--lie about being faithful or loving, lie about the sanctity of marriage...you name it. In fact, lying goes hand in hand with almost every single sin a person may commit--because sin implies evil and evil in order to manifest and grow requires duplicity and lies.

[toldyouso29]

Sanford denied instructing his staff to cover up his affair, but acknowledged that he told them he thought he would be on a hiking trip in the U.S. and never corrected that impression after leaving for South America.

"I let them down by creating a fiction with regard to where I was going," Sanford said. "I said that was the original possibility. Again, this is my fault in ... shrouding this larger trip."

the staff lied. Even if they did not know about the affair (which someone did or the emails would not have made it to the newspaper) The staff said everything was fine and that they had heard from the gov. when really, they later claimed they had not. This means they LIED. Affair or not, they tried to cover for him and pretend everything was fine when supposedly they did not know where he was or what he was doing. This makes them as complicit as he is. Sanford for the affair and dereliction of duty and his staff for being liars and trying to cover up the fact that their boss left the state and never told anyone where he was, what he was doing OR the fact he was about to blow himself and them out of the lying waters they were treading in.

[jbright9]

If anyone is happy with today's sad news of the passing of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson passings, it must be Govenor Sanford. They knocked him out of the limelight but thankfully I think it is too late to save him. How did he think he was going to get away with this? His wife should divorce him and he should move to Argentina to be with his true love. He is done here. What an idiot!

[HGOODGUY]

WHY DON'T WE STOP TREATING PUBLIC OFFICIALS LIKE THEY ARE GODS AND IDOLS.

HERE ARE A FEW FACTS ABOUT THEM---

THEY GET DRESSED THE SAME AS WE DO!!

THEY HAVE TOILET FUNCTIONS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!!

THEY GET ***** LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!!

THEY HAVE SEX JUST LIKE YOU AND ME!!!

THEY GET PISSED OFF AND CURSE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!!

THEY GET TESTY AND FIGHT WITH THEIR SPOUSES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!!

THEIR KIDS GET SCREWED UP SOMETIMES!!

THEY ARE HUMAN!!

I AM NOT A BIBLE QUOTER BY ANY MEANS BUT TRY THIS ONE ON FOR SIZE--"LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT GUILT CAST THE FIRST STONE!!"

[velma179]

I think that Governor Sanford is singing ..."we gotta be startin' something..." -- he got soooo kicked off the front page.

I mean no disrespect to the passing of a once great entertainer, I sincerely mourn his passing......

But, you have to know that Sanford said, "wow" and sighed some relief today. Time away from the glare gives both the one in the spotlight and those who examine him/her the enormous advantage of the "pause" button .

[walt1944]

South Carolina Governor Mark "HOT TAMALE" Sanford says he will pay back the state for a "business trip" he took to Argentina last June.

The trip with meals and lodging cost South Carolina taxpayers $8,000.

There is no mention how much of that $8,000 his HOT TAMALE Maria got!

Sanford, however, says he will pay the state back although he has not said HOW MUCH he will pay back!

Why do I get the feeling that he will negotiate to pay back 1 cent on the dollar!!! That comes out to a whopping $80!!!!!

HAIL OBAMA?????

[velma179]

What?

How can you possibly come up with a "Hail Obama"... even with the question marks? Presidential dude has nothing, nada, no dog in this Sanford fight... sheesh, it isn't all about politics, dingo.

[DemsCry]

It was not the trip last June, it was the trip last week. He first went there last year. God you need to read

[toldyouso29]

by DemsCry June 25, 2009 8:53 PM PDT
It was not the trip last June, it was the trip last week. He first went there last year. God you need to read


Maybe YOU should not post. He did NOT first go there last year. He met WITH his mistress last year, but he has been going there for years. He has known Maria for over 8 years. Meeting WITH someone does not mean that they just met them. Maybe you better read more articles about this issue so you can catch a clue--and try to grow up, your verbiage and failure to understand the article indicate you may still be in middle school.

[TrickynWV]

Thank you Mark Sanford.
People like you make a great argument FOR GAY MARRIAGE.

[nearl451]

Wow. A top star in the GOP. Never heard of him.

[ubrew12]

'Unfaithful Gov. To Pay State For 2008 Trip"

What are the odds that he'd repay it if he hadn't been found out?

[DemsCry]

God it was from 2009. The trip was LAST WEEK moron. He first met the woman last year on a state sponsored trip.

[DemsCry]

God it was from 2009. The trip was LAST WEEK moron. He first met the woman last year on a state sponsored trip.

[DemsCry]

God it was from 2009. The trip was LAST WEEK moron. He first met the woman last year on a state sponsored trip.

[toldyouso29]

You dare to call anyone a moron? You should talk. The fact is, he was boinking the woman last year and now will repay for that trip or does "last year" not mean 2008 when this year is 2009?

Go back and not only read the article, Republican--COMPREHEND IT. LOL

"South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he will reimburse the state for an economic development trip he took to Argentina last year during which he met with his mistress."

[toldyouso29]

WROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONGO.... He has known the woman for EIGHT (8) years. He supposedly started his affair last year, but he knew her for many years before that. Try to keep up.

[aeasus]

Gov might be taking a hike after all :P

[BeckieBest]

Another "family values" Republican shows his true colors.

[DemsCry]

Another no nothing democrat speaks. Now show us all Beckie that NO DEMOCRAT has cheated on his wife. Oh wait. WILLIAM J CLINTON DID WHILE IN THE WHITE HOUSE YOU NUT

[toldyouso29]

You can show us the number of Democrats who demanded and sought to impeach or demanded any one resigned for cheating.

Then you can show us those same Democrats later being caught for doing the same thing but wanting something different to happen to them (like stay in office)

Further, you can show us men who not only cheated but disrespected their wives and families to such a degree that their actions bordered on vicious:

1. Guiliani--moved his mistress in with his own wife and kids

2. Gingrich--served his cancer ridden wife with divorce papers while she was recovering from surgery and chemo

3. McCain: dumped the wife who had waited for him to return from the war for years after she had a car accident

4. Vitter, who unlike Spitzer and his one call girl, serviced a multitude of prostitutes thereby increasing his and his wife's chances of contracting STDs

5. Thurmond--who preached racial separation--while he got as close as humanly possible between the legs of an underaged black girl and somehow escaped statutory rape charges as well as the ire of his fellow racists

Clinton did cheat and like most men, tried to lie about it until the evidence was irrefutable--Gingrich lied, McCain lied, Guiliani lied, Spitzer lied, Craig is still lying, on and on--all men LIE when caught cheating--and they usually only come clean if/when they are ready to divorce or when they are caught. If those same men had been under oath like Clinton and they thought no one had proof--they probably would have lied...Ensign and SAnford only came clean when they knew they were caught.

The person who met the Gov at the airport was the same reporter who had held onto the emails--no doubt when he said he was "alone" just driving along the coast in Argentina--the reporter asked if he had time to see "Maria" while he was there. THAT would have been enough for him to realize the jig was up and to pretend to come clean and to cry about it.

But for the sake of his "moral legitimacy" SAndford should go--it is what he expected from Clinton--he can show us how it should be done.

[abled]

What a dumb thing for this man to do..as it was for clintin...spitzer..mcgreevey...blago[just a crook}...frank.{gay prostitution ring out of his appartment} and presidential hopeful john edwards...all scumbags..as we see it happens on both sides of the isle...only repubs take the heat dems...get away with these things...go figure

[Solarrays247]

According to my recollection, Clinton was a Democrat, and he drew enough heat to be impeached.

Next!

[toldyouso29]

Don't forget Vitter, Ensign, Craig, Hassert, Foley, Gingrich, Guiliani, McCain, et al--wouldn't want the miss all those Republicans who not only serial cheated on their spouses--but:

1. Guiliani moved his mistress into the gov mansion and forced his wife and kids to live with that until a judge forced him to remove the woman--he later married his mistress--of course wife #2 was also his former mistress and wife #1 was his first cousin. Rudy lambasted the actions of Clinton for cheating--go figure

2. Gingrich led the charge for impeaching Clinton but later admitted to having sex with a staffer on his desk and served his wife divorce papers while she was in the hospital having chemo

3. McCain divorced his wife after she faithfully waited for him when he was MIA, and after she had an accident which disabled her--preferring his mistress and her money (cindy McCain) to his former wife Carol, and his kids with Carol

4. Vitter likes Prostitutes. Lots of them. Whereas Spitzer appeared to have a favorite girl and paid much to be with her, Vitter liked to spread his money and the girls around.

5. Craig likes men, as does Foley as does Hassert. But Ted is hung up so he has to take his men with a dose of Meth--then he prays and claims the Lord is telling him how to advise Dubya...

There's more-much more--some so heinous your toes would curl--when you name scumbags--don't forget the hypocrits like Strom Thurmond the staunch segregationist--who wanted the races kept apart but saw nothing wrong with fathering a child with a 15 year old black girl while he did his racist rantings....Typical.

for more scumbags who did children, their own children, adopted children, random children and more--here ya go:

www.armchairsubversive.com

[wdh3007]

How did the media get his personnal e-mail address to begin with did the Department of Homeland Security Hack into his computer for the Obama Administration because he wouldn't take stimulas money?

[longtime2123]

Ooops, not the Obama Admin., actually wdh3007, you mean the Bush administration. The paper has had the Emails since December and couldn't believe it so they sat on it. There's that liberal media again!

[dennisgreen5]

Mr Sanford was a three term member ofthe House of Representatives in the 1990's when he voted for the impeachment of Bill Clinton. What goes around comes around Mr Sanford.

[formrusmcsgt]

How can anyone who demonstrates such totally faulty judgement still be considered fit for office?

Repub or Dem, no matter.

[zonkzilla]

This is supposed to be a picture of the woman Sanford was seeing. I have no way to verify but it looks like it might be legit to me.
www.bittenandbound.com/2009/06/25/maria-belen-shapur-is-mark-sanford-mistress-photos/maria-belen-shapur-2/