For the first time, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is providing specific details of his admitted affair with an Argentine lover, Maria Belen Chapur.
“There was some kind of connection from the very beginning,” Sanford told the Associated Press today about his relationship with Chapur, which began in 2001 but did not turn romantic until 2008, he says.
From the AP:
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Tuesday that he saw his Argentine mistress more times than previously disclosed, including what was to be a farewell meeting in New York chaperoned by a spiritual adviser soon after his wife found out about the affair.
In a lengthy and emotional interview with The Associated Press in his Statehouse office, the governor described five meetings with Maria Belen Chapur over the past year, including two romantic, multi-night stays with her in New York before they met there again intending to break up.
He said he met her two other times — their first meeting in 2001 at an open-air dance spot in Uruguay and a coffee date in New York in 2004 during the Republican National Convention. He said neither time was romantic.
Obviously, that contradicts what the governor said in his meandering confessional last week.
By CNSYD June 30, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Why does he feels the necessity to talk to the press about this? Is it that he loves the attention or is it a death wish?
By SS Minnow June 30, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Why am I not surprised?
By Cooky June 30, 2009 at 12:41 pm
So he took his pastor with him to break up with her – then went back on his own again last week? Bizarre. I think that speaks to the mental condition and capacity of Sanford. He needs mental help.
By Barney Fife June 30, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Jenny was at the RNC convention in NEW YORK. What a creep. It keeps getting worse. He should have nipped it, nipped it in the bud a long time ago.
By Elmo June 30, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I think the guv is in luv.
By exteach4 June 30, 2009 at 12:51 pm
How many more lies? He needs to resign NOW!
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' June 30, 2009 at 12:58 pm
He just needs to go. The reform movement is dead for now, unfortunately, because if he leaves we get anti-reformist Bauer and if he stays everything he touches will melt because he is so radioactive from his lies. He makes Clinton look like a choir boy.
By sic shillie June 30, 2009 at 1:06 pm
LOL looks like ole cubby culbertson’s “no comment” on whether he met maria led to yet another revision of the official story.
By Cooky June 30, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I’m not sure he could look any more stupid, but I’ll stay tuned.
Next thing you know, we’ll hear that he was cougar hunting at the Heathwood booster meetings.
By clearheaded June 30, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Not fair to compare him to Clinton. Clinton lied repeatedly, even under oath, but Sanford has been forthcoming while walking that line between what is important to tell and what is simply TMI (too much information) and hurtful to his family and others (I assume Cubby Cuthbertson was the advisor that accompanied him to NY).
By GetHimOut June 30, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Time for the slime bucket to get out!!!!
He wants the attention now… He can’t stay out of the spot light…. when he thinks he is about to loose the attention he comes up with a different story….
What a leader…. It has always been abouy “Markie” the pigs in the state house… the man loves sensationialism…. And this all at the tax payers expense….. What do you want to do to the budget Markie???? Screw it up as usual???
By newzjunkie June 30, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I’d tell everything too if I had the kind of job security he has. I mean, the state doesn’t have the votes to impeach him. SPT doesn’t want to give up his Senate position. So… what does he have to lose? In the language of his lover… NADA!
Lucky dog! He gets to have his cake and EAT it too!
By anonymous June 30, 2009 at 1:45 pm
LIAR! LIAR! PANTS ON FIRE!
FRAUD ALERT! FRAUD ALERT! SANFRAUD ALERT!
Mark Sanford admitted Tuesday that he saw his Argentine mistress more times than previously disclosed, including what was to be a farewell meeting in New York chaperoned by a spiritual adviser soon after his wife found out about the affair.
…the governor described five meetings with Maria Belen Chapur over the past year, including two romantic, multi-night stays with her in New York before they met there again intending to break up.
He said he met her two other times — their first meeting in 2001 at an open-air dance spot in Uruguay and a coffee date in New York in 2004 during the Republican National Convention. He said neither time was romantic.
It was the first disclosure of any liaisons with Chapur in the United States and contradicted a public confession last week during which Sanford admitted to a total of five encounters over their eight-year relationship.
He previously announced he would reimburse the state for money spent during a government trip to Brazil and Argentina in June 2008 when he saw Chapur. He insists no public money was used for any other meetings with her.
He saw Chapur again in mid-June of this year, visiting Argentina without telling his staff he was going to be out of the country. He instead led them to believe he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
The governor said he met Chapur in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, in 2001 after his final term in Congress and before his first term as governor. He said the two struck up an e-mail correspondence after meeting on a dance floor — a chance encounter during which he counseled her into the night about her failing marriage.
The two met in New York two more times in 2008: two nights in Manhattan in September and three nights in the Hamptons in November. Each time, Sanford claims he flew coach, paid for it himself, paid for the hotels in cash and told his staff he was reachable via cell phone.
But the governor claims he wanted to end the affair in person and, with his wife’s permission, went to New York with a “trusted spiritual adviser” serving as chaperone. The three went to church and dinner together and parted ways the same night.
But he visited Chapur again in Argentina on June 18, one final trip that brought the whole affair to light.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_on_re_us/us_sc_governor
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By Pat Hendrix June 30, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I think it’s about time Sanford stopped talking and end this Oprah moment. Get back to being a lousy governor and shut up.
By Barney Fife June 30, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I wouldn’t go so far as to say he makes Clinton look like a choir boy. But, we haven’t heard the whole story yet.
Our Governor is a “nut”.
Who we need in the Governor’s office is Andy Taylor. He is a straight shooter. He would never cheat on Helen, even with the “fun girls”.
By bleaster June 30, 2009 at 2:04 pm
He feels a need to spill in front of a microphone due to guilt. Sad, sad story.
By stimulus June 30, 2009 at 2:10 pm
i think his spiritual advisor has been divored 3 or 4 times…
By matt June 30, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Seriously, does this guy have a brain tumor or something? His recent behavior is beyond bizarre.
By RD Neck June 30, 2009 at 2:26 pm
As Harpootlian said on NBC Nightly News last night, “…dead man walking”.
By SCCON June 30, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Disgusting. Why can’t he just keep his mouth shut? How does this melodrama help his family?
By SCCON June 30, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Um, “Barney”, Andy Griffith is a Democrat. I guess the expression “____________________________, Democratic Governor of South Carolina . . . ” is ok with you.
By Mab June 30, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Politics doesn’t get any better than this, y’all.
Someone at the P & C is calling him Lovenor Sanford.
By Scott June 30, 2009 at 2:55 pm
“The issue of lying is probably the biggest harm, if you will, to the system of democratic government, representatives government, because it undermines trust. And if you undermine trust in the system, you undermine everything.”
Mark Sanford on Bill Clinton, CNN, 2/16/99
By Cooky June 30, 2009 at 2:56 pm
When MS says he didn’t go “all the way” with the other women he was with – what is that? Blowjobs? Spooning? I think we need to know at this point. Spice up the news for sure
By Interrloper June 30, 2009 at 3:20 pm
One is tempted to say there must be some point, to what Gov. Sanford is doing. Could he see a future in the media as the next ‘reality television’ star or something? But that means recognizing the existence of millions of other people and Sanford lives in a world of ONE – himself. I think his volubility is about narcissism, as is pretty much everything for him.
By Jim June 30, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Unbelievable. Mark please either a) resign or b) shut up.
By No way, no how am I putting my name here June 30, 2009 at 3:37 pm
“I did not have sexual relations with those other women…the ones not named Chapur”.
By Patsy June 30, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Another lie: that on the night he met her at that open air dance thingy in Uruguay, he counseled her. About her husband. And about the importance of staying married. Sounds like the rum was doing all the talking and it wasn’t about Jesus.
By w June 30, 2009 at 4:13 pm
he needs to make like an abortion and head out early.
By BLBarBob June 30, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Bugs Bunny said it best, “What a maroon.”
By Saundra Bond in MB June 30, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Please tell me why Sanford aired his dirty laundry on ETV? He asked all news outlets to leave the room before his confession except Educational Television. Was it shown in the classroom?
By Another opinion June 30, 2009 at 4:38 pm
What is next? This man is not playing with a full deck. Davis and Haley’s “full support” going forward makes me wonder what their problem is. The “Reform” movement is dying second by second and Mark is responsibilie for killing it. Anyone that stands by this bizarre behavior because they are afraid of Andre needs their value system questioned. Supporting adultery over Andre is just as bizarre as Mark’s behavior. Throw them all out!
By time to go June 30, 2009 at 5:14 pm
What is with this guy??? He also referred to his mistress as his “soul mate.” How much more public humiliation does Jenny deserve? I’ve been in the Andre-would-be worse camp up until now, but he’s clearly gone off the deep end. Governor, please shut the hell up and resign!
By Richard June 30, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Mr. Sanford is in deep passionate,romantic love for the first time in his life. The King of England gave up his throne for the woman he loved.Surely Sanford can give up his powerless little gig in S.C. for his “soulmate”
By EM June 30, 2009 at 5:43 pm
just a fool in luv. I’m starting to think he wanted to be kicked to the curb by Jenny after the 1st news/confession. She didn’t do the dirty work so he has humiliated her again. He’s one of those guys that wants her to say divorce so he can say I tried.. QUIT voting Present…never mind, just Quit.
By gus w palinthrober June 30, 2009 at 6:29 pm
This gets more pathetic anc odious by the day. From likely survival in his term to death wish. I know philanderers who thumbed their nose at their wives less than Sanford.
“Crossing the line” is a metaphor for stopping at foreplay.
By liz June 30, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Selling a sack of dung.
Selling you that the affair is the issue.
REFOCUS> HE LEFT THE STATE WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE WITH HIS CELL PHONE OFF>
TALK ABOUT THAT CAUSE THERE IS NOT AN EXCUSE
By lou June 30, 2009 at 7:21 pm
remember when all those Bushies said, ” you create your own reality”….
By Slick Cheap Divorce Lawyer June 30, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I don’t care which team calls, but this is a game in which I need to be a playa. Mark or Jenny: One of you please call me. I have several car payments to make up on the beemer – not to mention a house payment or two or three. That’s all I need. Either one of you. Please call. The publicity will cover me the rest of the year! 555-555-5555! But if I get into the Michael Jackson estate fight, I might have to bail, but….. until then…..
By jezebel July 1, 2009 at 7:36 am
Nothing surprises me about SC. It is an ignorant state, operated by dirty politics and a stupid legal system. We used to say in law school there at USC “thank goodness for Alabama and Mississippi” because of their poor ratings but really, take a look now. Sanford is a fool, if only because he ran his mouth. I think there is something more that keeps him babbling, and it just could be a mental condition other than infatuation.
Remember his first inauguration there at the Farmer’s Market? How cheap, that’s all I recall about the affair. Also, the frayed collars on his clothing. So now he is on some personal journey? I think it would have been more fitting for him to go to a monastery.
I just keep hearing that Gene Pitney song from “Westside Story”.
Maria . . .
By Toyota Kawaski July 1, 2009 at 8:46 am
Spiritual advisor with him. Both of them need help
By Phil July 1, 2009 at 8:49 am
I need a Spiritual Advisor! Sounds like pimpimg to me. Scientology? No one has said what affiliation is this guy. Please don’t tell me he’s a Southern Baptist…LOL
By lou July 1, 2009 at 10:32 am
Hey Jezebel, you are right but it ain’t mental.
Sanford doesn’t lie good ya’ll
By Ben July 1, 2009 at 10:46 am
Guess what’s going to be revealed in his next interview? The spiritual advisor was really a hot 20 something blonde to help in a 3 way.
Stay tuned….