WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsSanford admits to extramarital affair

Sanford admits to extramarital affair

COLUMBIA, SC (WMBF) - Gov. Mark Sanford publicly apologized Wednesday for letting down South Carolinians after admitting to a year-long affair with a close friend of eight years.

The married father of four emotionally apologized to his wife, staff and others at a news conference after returning Wednesday from a trip to Argentina that followed a dayslong absence from the statehouse. His staff had said the Republican was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

Sanford admitted he has engaged in a relationship with what he calls a "dear friend" from Argentina, who he has known for eight years.

Sanford confessed the relationship between him and the unidentified woman began through emails, and says over the past year, it developed into much more than a simple friendship.

The State newspaper in Columbia says they obtained the emails between the woman, who they identify as "Maria" and Sanford in December. Sanford tells Maria through the series of exchanged emails his "heart cries out for [her], her voice, her body, the touch of her lips, the touch of her fingertips and an even deeper connection to her soul."

Click here to read the emails (WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT)

Since the development of the relationship, Sanford says he has seen the woman a total of three times.

"It began very innocently as I suspect they usually do," he said. "I've let down a lot of people. That's the bottom line. I've been unfaithful to my wife."

"I hurt you all, I hurt my wife, I hurt my boys," he added. "All I can say is ‘I apologize.'"

Sanford says his family has been struggling with his unfaithfulness for the last five months, noting his wife, Jenny Sanford, and sons knew about his trip to Argentina before he left the country.

"I've spent the last five days crying in Argentina so I could repeat it back here," Sanford said. "I've let down a lot of people. That's the bottom line."

Despite his infidelity, Sanford continues to stand by his relationship with his wife, saying they are not "formally separated," but rather are "trying to work through something."

Jenny Sanford publicly commented on her husband's confession hours after the news conference, noting she had asked her husband to leave two weeks ago and cease any communication.

"I believe enduring love is primarily a commitment and an act of will, and for a marriage to be successful, that commitment must be reciprocal," the Republican's wife pointed out Wednesday.

The First Lady seems to be holding out for the long run, announcing she will be giving her husband a second shot at marriage.

One political position he won't have a second shot at, however, is as the chairman for the Republican Governor's Association. The two-term governor announced shortly after his confession that he will terminate his position with the association.

Officials with the Republican Governor's Association were quick to fill the void left by Sanford Wednesday afternoon, naming Haley Barbour as the new chairman.

"I apologize to the people of South Carolina. There are so many people out there right now who are hurt, angry and disappointed with me - and rightfully so," Sanford said in a follow-up statement. "Over the time 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. I ask for your forgiveness and your prayers for everyone I have hurt."

Sanford said he let down his staff by not informing them of his plans, even admitting he intentionally misinformed them.

His staff first claimed Sanford was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Sanford's staff said he would be returning to work on Wednesday after his trip, which was designed to help him "recharge" after the stimulus battle and a busy legislative session, according to his office.

"There are moral absolutes. This press conference is a consequence," he said.

Sanford's trip quickly catapulted into the national spotlight after his wife told the Associated Press on Monday she had not spoken with her husband for several days, including Father's Day.

Jenny Sanford later disclosed on Wednesday their lack of communication coincided with the couple's temporary split.

Confusion intensified after his state-issued SUV was found at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. By Wednesday morning, The State newspaper reported that Sanford spent the previous seven days in Buenos Aires. Sanford told the newspaper he had not been hiking in the Appalachian Trail, as had been previously reported by his spokesman, Joel Sawyer.

As news of Sanford's affair traveled through Columbia and Washington D.C., politicians refrained from pointing fingers, but rather offered words of encouragement and hope for the emotionally battered First Family.

"I have been a close friend of Mark and Jenny since our election to Congress in 1994. Like all of their friends, I want the best for their family and hope they can repair the damage," U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) proceeded to say on the heels of Sanford's announcement.

South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster adds to Graham's comments by saying despite the difficult times, he believes "leaving the state without a governor for any period of time is not acceptable."

But could more trouble be on the horizon for the Republican?

Sanford told the WMBF News Network Friday he has no plans of resigning from office, but persistent critic Sen. Jake Knotts says he wants to see the governor out of office.

"I want him to make that decision," he explained in a press conference Friday afternoon.  "I want South Carolinians to see him as a man they elected is man enough to stand up and do the right thing."

Knotts declared he wants the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to conduct a formal investigation into a June 2008 Department of Commerce trip to Argentina, in which Sanford attended.  During that trip, funded by tax dollars, Sanford admitted to visiting his mistress.

"Taxpayer dollars were used one year ago and there's been no attempt what-so-ever to pay it back until he got caught," Knott boldly stated.  "That is wrong, people."

It remains unclear whether or not Sanford spent any money on the woman during the visit.  Sanford says he will reimburse the state for the cost of airfare - more than $8,000 - that was paid for his flight to Argentina.

While no one can predict whether or not the governor will resign as a result of his infidelity scandal, his term is set to expire in 2010.

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