More call for Sanford to quit in wake of latest admissions
Morning News Columbia Bureau
Published: June 30, 2009
Updated: July 1, 2009
COLUMBIA — The drumbeat for Gov. Mark Sanford to resign from office grew louder Tuesday after the governor admitted to more encounters with his mistress and several other women with whom he “crossed the line.”
The governor told The Associated Press in an emotional interview he had met with Maria Belen Chapur five times over the past year, and another two encounters were overnight stays in New York City during the past several years.
“There was a connection from the very beginning,” he told the AP.
Though he added the two encounters in New York, the last in 2004 during the Republican National Convention, were not romantic. The revelations are the first time the governor has admitted to seeing his mistress in the United States.
Sanford also told the AP that Chapur is his soul mate, but he will try to fall back in love with his wife, Jenny.
The governor also said he “crossed lines” with a handful of women other than his mistress, but never had sex with them.
Upon learning about the additional encounters between Sanford and his mistress, S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate the governor’s travel expenses.
“I’ve asked SLED to get the travel records from the governor’s office and do a preliminary review of those to see if it appears that any public money has been spent for private purposes, travel or anything else,” McMaster said.
The governor’s office seemed relieved that the attorney general’s office had requested the inquiry to help end speculation that the governor had used more taxpayer dollars for personal travel.
“We’re pleased that SLED will look into this matter,” Sanford said in statement. “To be very clear: no public money was ever used in connection with this. We believe the best way to put those questions to rest once and for all is for SLED to ask these questions, and we plan on cooperating fully.”
SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd said late Tuesday afternoon his office had been requesting documents from the governor’s office related to his travel dates when he met with his mistress.
“I have nothing suggesting his used taxpayer dollars in any way,” Lloyd said. “We will do what the evidence will require us to do.”
Lloyd said he expects to finish going through the documents provided by the governor’s office by the end of the week.
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who would take over as governor if Sanford resigned, squashed rumors Tuesday that he had been in talks with Republicans leaders about not running for governor in 2010 if he was given the chance to finish out Sanford’s term.
“I actually have been on the phone for two days talking to business leaders and members of the General Assembly,” Bauer said. “And it’s been mixed feelings; some of the General Assembly said that would be the most noble way to lead our state.”
As the mystery of the governor’s affair continues to come to light, more lawmakers are calling for the governor to step aside to spare the state further embarrassment.
Sanford ally and gubernatorial candidate Sen. Larry Grooms, a Berkeley County Republican, said it’s impossible at this point for the governor to regain faith from anyone in his leadership abilities.
The leading Democratic candidate for governor, Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden, also called on Sanford to step aside.
On Monday, three House members from the Upstate publicly asked the governor to remove himself from office.
Glenn McCall, one of South Carolina’s three voting members on the Republican National Committee and chairman of the York County GOP, is organizing a rally at the Statehouse next week of fellow Republicans to call on the governor to resign. So far, he said, about 400 people are planning to attend.
State Rep. Lester Branham, a Lake City Democrat, said it’s a personal decision for the governor to make.
“I’m deeply saddened over the whole affair, but the governor must make his decision on what he thinks is best for the citizens of South Carolina and his family,” Branham said.
With only 18 months remaining in Sanford’s final term, Republican state Rep. Kris Crawford of Florence said that transitioning to another administration would take up too much time when the state has so many pressing issues that need attention.
“As someone who’s been on a transitional staff, it takes about four to six months to get your feet on the ground,” Crawford said. “It’s just not the right decision to resign at this time.”
State Rep. Phil Lowe, another Florence Republican, said the governor has betrayed the public trust.
“I think he quickly needs to admit everything to get it out in the open so judgements can be made,” Lowe said.
Reader Reactions
Can a governor be impeached for being “STUPID”?
What’s next Mark? You stole a candy bar in the Boy Scouts and you want to man up and come clean?
Governor Sanford needs to resign. Sure he is not the first spouse to cheat but he is a governor that left his position for several days, meanwhile NO ONE knew where he was. No matter who says what to support him, no one can deny the fact that the governor has acted with complete irresponsibility regarding his position. To make matters worse, now every two seconds he is in the media and can’t seem to keep his mouth shut about his affair and his “soulmate.“ Honestly I believe that simple thing will do him in. When he first came forward to admit the affair, people were shocked and upset but I don’t believe it was a career ender. In the days that have followed, this man seems to be craving media attention. Each time I turn on my television, I see him spilling more details and further embarrassing his wife and children, not to mention himself. This guy is ridiculous and is not someone I want leading our state. Like I have said before for those of you that think he did such a noble thing by admitting his mistake, let me tell you this. . .Do you wonder why he came forward? And, have you ever considered that maybe he knew that he was about to be exposed and wanted to come forward first? SC deserves better than to be late night fodder because of our loser governor. I don’t believe he has a place in politics at this time and quite honestly I wish I would not have voted for the guy who claimed family values meant so much. He can’t even think straight because he is too busy thinking of his “soulmate” instead of leading this state. That’s why the guy was so fool and not wanting to take the stimulus funds. People say those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Yes, that is true but as citizens of this state we are entitled to the right to voice our opinions because our governor is supposed to represent SOUTH CAROLINA. As voters we have the right to express concern about our state’s leadership or lack thereof. . .
How much heat does one have to take for one mistake? I think we know all about the private part we need to know.The rest is between his mate and his GOD.The rest just haven’t been caught yet.He’s done us a lot of good in the past.stone him if somebody can qualify to throw the first one.
old cop, the thing is, with each (nauseatingly pathetic) apology comes new revelations and now new women he was playing with (but not having sex with, ha!) on our time. More time we find he was off full-filling lustful needs rather than the needs of South Carolina.
Just like with cops who do this on the clock and sexually harrass poeple on the clock… on our dime! And superiors prefer to look the other way.
Sanford is into narcissism and that can be dangerous.
Would I put my life and safety into this man’s hands? Absolutely NOT!
If you pull all computers he had access to, I bet you’ll find more lust in Sanford’s closet.
Some people can’t accept and enjoy what they have been blessed with, they just have to have more, more.
Sanford keeps saying, at the end of the day, must be his catch phrase.
At the end of the day, people just aren’t strong enough or have enough personality and care for themselves to do what is right. It is hard as h*** to do right sometimes but some of us really try in this perverted backward world.
Now we South Carolinians are looking more perverted and without control than ever before.
Who knows, maybe we have lost all our basic goodness. Sure looks like it from where I stand!
The Governor needs to do what he thinks is best for the people of SC. He needs to lead and with the little time he has in office to help guide us through this mess we’re in. At least we have qa Governor that admits & gives apoligy and asks forgiveness for his mistakes.
It’s obvious that they are calling for his resignation because of dereliction of duty. His marital problems are of no concequence and is media filler. Why would he feel the need to reimburse the state if he never used public funds for his rendevous with his lover? This guy left work for 5 days without notifying anyone of his whereabouts or leaving anyone else in charge. He is responsible for the well-being of 4.5 million people. This is a no-brainer…the guy should lose his job. Politics shouldn’t even matter. If this guy was working for you, spent company money for personal reasons, and was a no call no show for 5 days, there is no way you would keep him as an employee and risk further damage to your business.
I don’t think he should resign. He’s the Governor. Sure he is having marital problems but that’s between him and the people in his personal life. He still has the skill and care that has dedicated him to the well being of the state of South Carolina. However, I do believe there are people who would love to use this revelation into Mark Sanford’s personal life to remove him because of his views on the federal bailout/stimulus money which has done nothing but to increase wasteful uneccessary debt and serve to divide this country and as we see here also into the state of South Carolina. What’s really happening here is that some people really could care less about Mark Sanford and his family’s *personal* marital problems except that it provides a useful tool to unseat him for the benefit of political leverage, and even at the expense of placing the state into the media under the spectacle.
Surely, he and his family’s personal problems at hand are truly unfortunate but sometimes it happens into family lives. Who is to say it did not happen because of pressures that came from his fudiciary duties to South Carolina? You never know. But I believe he still has the skill and experience to carry out his duty to South Carolina. He is well into his second term. Odd that his personal marital problems are pushed to exposure so close to his decisions made on the fed money. And we all know how politics, the media, and pressure can be used as a forcefull tool.
Hang in there Governor Sanford! I have been well pleased with your handling of the state’s concerns and sorry to hear of your problems at home.
“MARK STANFORD” SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY AS GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA. IT’S OBVIOUS THAT “ROMANTIC GETWAY TRIPS” & “WOMEN” IS THE ONLY THING ON HIS MIND. SOUTH CAROLINA ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS FALLING APART. SOUTH CAROLINA’S SO CALLED “GOVERNOR” WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE STIMILUS PACKAGE TO HELP THE STATE IN IT’S TIME OF NEED B/C HE WANTED TO BE THE FIRST GOVERNOR TO PAY DOWN STATE DEBT. YEAH RIGHT!!!! SO WHAT IT MAY TAKE THE REPLACEMENT GOVERNOR 6-8 MONTHS TO ADJUST, IT’S BETTER TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE OFFICE FOCUSED ON SOUTH CAROLINA THAN SOMEONE THAT IS IN “LOVE LAND” TRYING TO FIND THEMSELF. IMPREACHMENT SHOULD BE ON THE WAY B/C STANFORD HAS REALLY AND TRULY EMBARRASSED SOUTH CAROLINA STATE AND IT’S RESIDENTS.
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