Lloyd: Sanford Didn’t Misuse State Funds
South Carolina’s top law enforcement officer says that Gov. Mark Sanford did not misuse state funds in carrying on an affair with his Argentine mistress, Maria Belen Chapur.
The announcement from Reggie Lloyd, chief of the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), is not surprising as it essentially echoes what Lloyd told FITS last weekend.
Two days ago, however, Lloyd was instructed to conduct a preliminary investigation by S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster.
McMaster, one of several Republican candidates running to replace Sanford in 2010, says he asked for the SLED inquiry after Sanford revealed in a disastrous Associated Press interview that he had failed to disclose all of his encounters with Chapur in an emotional press conference from a week ago confessing the affair.
Sanford has reimbursed the state for just over $3,300 from a taxpayer-funded trip to Argentina last summer.
The trip was legitimate, according to the governor, but he visited Chapur during a break from meeting with local business leaders.
Obviously, Lloyd’s inquiry immediately drew fire from Sanford’s critics, who pointed out that the SLED director serves at the pleasure of the governor.
Comments
By The Organ Grinder on July 2nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I would vote for this guy for Governor in a second.
Again, it’s nice to know that there are some class acts in Columbia.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on July 2nd, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Four more years! Seriously, was anyone expecting a bombshell?
By CNSYD on July 2nd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
If everything was legit why did Marky write a check? Of course Lloyd says it was all legit. To say otherwise would indicate error last week plus he would be sticking a knife in the guy who gave him his job.
By HammerheadSC on July 2nd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Mark paid as a peace offering, not as a submission of guilt. Although i do not support Mark at this moment, I do believe Lloyd’s staff has done everything that was needed or required and that Mcmaster, Bauer, knotts and La Socialista need to let the story die and go forth with business. Any further attempts to investigate him or to impeach him would be a waste of time and therefore a waste of the taxpayers money. 18 months, Ive endured a job i hate longer than that, I can endure Sanford for that much.
By 'Lil Kim B on July 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Would someone please tell Reggie to dress for television next time? He obviously owns a suit and tie and you would think that he would have taken the time to dress appropriately for the news conference today. No doubt after all of the media hype over this situation today’s news conference will end up all over the national headlines. I like the guy but he was dressed like crap today. He’s the Director of our State Law Enforcement Agency…how ’bout dress the part next time…
By anonymous on July 2nd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Mr. Loyd, how do investigate your own boss?
Well, uh uh uh …basically, here’s how you do it, …YOU DON’T FIND ANYTHING WRONG!
The CORRUPTION IN THIS STATE IS UNBELIEVABLE!
BTW, who was in charge of providing security for Sanford? SLED and SCDNR
BTW, who was in charge of investigating Sanford?
SLED …SLED?
There is clearly is a conflict of interest BIG TIME and I throw the BS flag on this one.
It’s time to call the Feds, perhaps the FBI and the US Attorneys office.
By Pointy Headed Liberal on July 2nd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Well, the intrepid lawman did manange to misplace the Love Gov. Which in any other state would be grounds for immediate dismissal. So maybe Mr. Lloyd’s sloppiness is understandable, he simpled lost his dry cleaning!
Or is it that all Republicans these days are incompetent unless proven otherwise?
By Adam on July 2nd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Are the Dems not out there calling for an independent investigator to be appointed because of Mr. Lloyd’s race or just because they are asleep at the wheel like always?
By jezebel on July 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
People, the officials in SC are not Hollywood elite who expect security day and night. I know, I spent time there within the Columbia circle. You could ask his Chief of Staff and the SLED agent assigned to him but they aren’t going to reveal anything.
I have been thinking about two things. I read that Sanford was a follower of “The Family”. Can someone give me more insight into this fundamentalist group and what C Street might have meant in his growth? Also, everybody is applauding Jenny Sanford but she knew about this for at least 6 months (what was that letter she found? an email?) and pretended right along with Mark to go through that Cubby marriage conference in May. She waited until both school and the legislature was out before telling him to hit the road -which he did. She could have left at any time, and this sounds a little politically motivated to me.
Finally, what is this “book” Sanford said he was writing and needed time alone. Couldn’t he just go to his beach house, or even rent a hotel room in the state? Hate to say it now Markie, but unless that book is about you and your soul mate, nobody is going to be interested. I have to say I read a comment somewhere that was so cute, it said he was being all soul matie. Mark and Maria, sitting in a tree . . .
By Eric on July 2nd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
The Democrats are not pushing for an independent prosecutor for the Sanford mess because there is simply no need. The Republican Party is doing a fine job of immolating Sanford on their own! At best, Democrats would be accused of piling on to this slow motion train wreck. I suspect that Democrats are best served by having Sanford twist in the wind up through the 2010 campaign season.
By Scott on July 2nd, 2009 at 5:25 pm
While Lloyd is saying that Sanford didn’t misuse state funds, state funds were used to get him to Argentina….and if I remember correctly, the Commerce Department said that the Argentinian leg of the trip was added at the request of the Governor’s Office.
By madcock on July 2nd, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Well, if Reggie is telling the truth, sounds like the state of SC owes King David several thousand dollars.
What a joke. If Reggie had any concern for his professional standards, he would have recused himself from this investigation because he was appointed by the LuvGuv, and asked for an independent arbiter to undertake the investigation.
If either party, Reggie or the Adulterer had the slightest concern that the mafia that calls itself the SC GOP, they would have asked for this indpendent investigation for the sake of their own reputations.
Unfortunatley, we live in one-party state, just like Cuba or China, with a compliant media that sits on incriminating e-mails for months, then breaks its neck to make sure Sanford knows they have proof of his adultery so he can change his story to fit the facts.
I would say God help us, but as you Repubs love to point out God is a Republican, so I guess we’re screwed there too.
By PandaChris on July 2nd, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Remember, this was not an OFFICIAL investigation….this means that Lloyd could make the rules up regarding the investigation and did not have to follow strict protocol as in a criminal investigation.
Sanford has already admitted and returned funds….and tell me, for the record, what jobs and/or business did we get from his trip to Argentina?
Guys, this is the real coverup..///a;; the posts, editorials, stories, etc. about the “true love affair” was just a lot of noise to take our eyes and minds off the misuse of funds.
By randee on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Let’s face it–Sanford is a huge liability to the Reptards. Of couse the Dems want him to stick around for another 18 months, as it will pave the way for an almost certain Democrat goobernatorial victory.
By liz on July 3rd, 2009 at 7:50 am
Did anyone read Rolling Stone article on Goldman Sachs?? Matt T. said in that article that every market crash was instigated by Goldman Sachs.
Mark Sanford worked for Goldman Sachs in 1987.
Interestingly, the London AIG office opened that same year.
And that is the year that I have absolute PROOF of two Social Security accounts paying somewhere other than to the people they were supposed to be paying.
I’ll be available for questions and answers anytime anyone wants some.
By James the Foot Soldier on July 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Scott – Gov. goes to Argentina and meets with Argentinian leaders and captains of industry down there (whatever industry that may be).
Trip is now legit.
Gov. spends time with the Dolly Lama while in Argentina. That doesn’t make the trip illegitimate – it just makes it smell really really bad.
By SCHotline Staff on July 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
South Carolinian’s Duped Again By SLED, McMaster? McClatchy: “Sanford’s trade mission to Argentina contradicted U.S. policy”
http://schotline.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/south-carolinians-duped-again-by-sled-mcmaster-mcclatchy-sanfords-trade-mission-to-argentina-contradicted-u-s-policy/