Ascertaining the precise location of Gov. Mark Sanford’s Argentine lover, Maria Belen Chapur, has become one of the hottest political parlor games in South Carolina since it was first rumored that the “Luv Gov” had brought his Latino hottie up to the Palmetto State. Oh, and with national gossip rags reportedly offering six figures for the first photos of Sanford and Chapur together, plenty of amateur paparazzi are popping up all over South Carolina.
Since we’ve already delved into the “Where’s Maria?” speculation once already, we figured we might as well give everybody an update on the latest scuttlebutt.
FITS spent our Sunday in Aiken County, S.C. and its surrounding countryside, traveling from house to house and barn to barn (including a few barns with Argentine connections) on a quest for the happy couple.
We weren’t there on a whim, either, we were acting on a credible tip alleging that Sanford ally Sen. Greg Ryberg was using his local connections to accommodate Sanford and Chapur, speculation that apparently made its way to at least one other news outlet.
Wherever he was, we know that Sanford wasn’t staying in his big, empty taxpayer-funded mansion in Columbia.
Sources at the S.C. Governor’s Mansion tell FITS that Sanford did not stay there all weekend, and the governor’s cell phone was turned off starting early Friday.
Meanwhile, Sanford’s office did not return repeated phone calls Sunday afternoon or Monday morning seeking information on his whereabouts. Sen. Ryberg’s staffers also did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Other sources following the Chapur drama dispute the Aiken story, and say that Sanford and Chapur were staying with his “spiritual advisor” Cubby Culbertson this weekend.
Stay tuned …
By CNSYD August 24, 2009 at 10:01 am
Since Maria would have to have been processed thru US Customs upon entry, could an interprising news organization exercise their inside sources to find out if she entered the country?
Pingback: Maria Belen Chapur Is Rumored To Be In South Carolina | Guanabee
By Barney Fife August 24, 2009 at 10:36 am
You just make this crap up and never have to answer for it. What ever happened to the cover up with “Katon Dawson”.
You’re website has become nothing more than a tabloid.
You are starting to become a laughing stock.
By enkidu August 24, 2009 at 10:37 am
Why does it matter? Sanford’s fulfilling the duties of his office is of concern to all. His personal life should belong to himself and the supermarket tabloids.
By Martha August 24, 2009 at 11:54 am
It is of concern, if he is stashed away with Maria Belen Chapur. Further evidence of his straying from Duty. And lack of concern for the consequences, both to his family and to his state.
By shiya August 24, 2009 at 11:58 am
It matters because Sanford has made it matter. With all the talk about redemption and forgiveness, it will be nice to know what exactly he is asking forgiveness for. Abandoning the state, abandoning his family or both? so long as he keeps saying he needs to do “right” by the family and seeking forgiveness, pardon us if we get tired of all this. And didnt he say, he wasnt in touch with Chapur. His mountain of lies is going to sink him, and citizens of SC deserve to get the truth out. We need someone to focus on the state, not someone worried about when he is going to get caught or how to plan for the next rendezvous.
He will make things much easier for him if he simply resigns, and retires to his “plantation” with his concubine. It is his conceit, arrogance, sense of entitlement and sheer incompetence that is wearing all of us out and will lead to his downfall.
By Lynn August 24, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Mark Sanford is mental nut. One has to be a moron not to realize this. This man is clearly out of his mind if rumours are true that he is shackling with his equally mental nut mistress that is Maria Belen Chapur.
The media has to be tough on Mark Sanford. South Carolinians deserve to know the truth. While he deserves to have a private life, I also would like to think that as public figure that he is when his private dealings intersect and worst conflict with what he says and promises to do in public, the citizens of South Carolina needs to know what is going on in both these of his image sides.
It has become clear to me, that he says he is working on a reconciliation with his family and that he is working on getting right with God and South Carolinians among others, but all these rumors about him and his Argentine mistress together obviously distracts the priorities he says otherwise.
Last week at his Summerville Rotary Club appearance, he denied that he was in contact with Maria Chapur. Was he again lying to us South Carolinians as he has been doing since he had an affair with Chapur?
Mark Sanford, these is no way that God fearing Bible minded South Carolinians are going to turn our heads around and accept your sinful ways and wrong morals.
It is either ruling as a Governor or putting an end to your mental shenanigans to include your obsession with Maria Chapur. You cant choose both. South Carolinans will never forgive and forget if you dont get things right and set your priorities the way you say it to be.
By tamu88 August 24, 2009 at 1:58 pm
If everyone thinks the Gov is a whack job; you do have involuntary commitment in your state.
I do like the double standard that it’s OK to hound him; but Jenny asks for healing and privacy. That way she can have her photos in Vogue, drag her four minor children, who are in need of healing and privacy, out in the sand dunes, so Mom can pose in haute couture. Must also be nice to get all one’s girlfriends to talk to national media, telling the earth how perfect she is, and don’t forget, we need to give Jenny and the boys healing and privacy.
By LuvGuv August 24, 2009 at 2:45 pm
If someone will pay me 500K for a picture of myself and my Argentinian soul mate,I will accommodate them. My rich, high strung wife has left me and I need a little spending money for my globe trotting life style. i can’t see myself ever flying coach again.
It certainly appears that my fair weather friends are abandoning me and I can see that very soon I will have a lot of time on my hands.
Last night we were in the hot tub when we heard a helicopter overhead.
This whole affair is getting a bit ridiculous. Thank goodness God has plans for me.
By Matt August 24, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I wonder if FITS wandered into the Travellers compound during his trip through the Aiken countryside…better watch out for those freaks.
Maybe Mark and Maria have become gypsies?
By shiya August 24, 2009 at 3:11 pm
“do like the double standard that it’s OK to hound him; but Jenny asks for healing and privacy. ”
He is the gov, making decisions for us. He is the one asking for our forgiveness, not her. She may be prolonging the embarassment, but that is NOTHING compared to what he has inflicted on his family. He abandones them on Father’s day, for God’s sake. I am sure the boys would rather take what their mother is doing than what their father has done.
By Martha August 24, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Tamu88
You are being unfair. Jenny’s husband dragged their marriage into the national spotlight; she did not. She graciously is trying to act with dignity and is doing so in the pages of Vogue. She should not sit silent after all this Maria stuff!
Her estranged husband, who claims he wants to save their marriage, is apparently cavorting in the Sanfords’ home state with his mistress.
What kind of respect does he deserve? IMO, none.
By SC observer August 24, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Mark Sanford’s mental capabilities are definitely open to speculation. Maria Belen Chapur should be thrown to the wolves if she is indeed in SC. She has given up any pretension to have a private life if the rumours are indeed true. She is even more certifiable than him if this is indeed the case.
Jenny Sanford has had her life exposed to a media frenzy by her husband and is trying to create a situation where her sons can claim that at least one parent is intelligent.
I cannot understand what Mark Sanford is all about. Its one thing, to be in love, its another, to humiliate your wife and sons in public. I have absolutely no respect for this man.
By Martha August 24, 2009 at 3:49 pm
SC oberver is right on!
By Mike Reino August 24, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Six Figures Plus? Heck, time to break out the PhotoShop. By the time they find out it’s a fake, I’ll be in Argentina..
Hate to disagree, but I heard that Sanford was at Sullivan’s this weekend..
By Jean August 24, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Maybe that Argentinian homewrecker will fall into one of those holes that the Governor likes to dig.
By shiya August 24, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Hilarious,
This is the guy Marke is getting his “spirutual” advice from..no wonder Sanford loves him so much.
PS: see the bikini model on the left
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/3727562046_f1702e96f2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/capitolweekly/3727562046/&usg=__PT8qIvLR0xQhQtoZ68VQvTJ6lTg=&h=375&w=500&sz=56&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=QoHnK6eTqX-qRM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcubby%2Bculbertson%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
By Jean August 24, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Come on people, enough of this nonsense about that homewrecker being in SC. First of all, no one in their right mind would play host/ess to her. Secondly, Mr. Sanford knows he has to walk a straight line for next 16 months. Plus that woman has her own trouble to deal with at home. Her sons must be going through what the Sanford boys are going through, shame for their respective parent.
By Amos "Amen" Elliott August 24, 2009 at 4:45 pm
There is a big new spread off White Hall in Colleton County….8 fireplaces….view of the MARSH..!!
Maybe you need to get a KAYAK……Fits
By tamu88 August 24, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Why not sell a photo? One of the grandsons of the Queen of England sold the photos of his wedding for a reported half million pounds! British tabloids pay way more than US ones. Wonder what the exchange rate is today?
By Lin McKay August 24, 2009 at 6:32 pm
The governor was with his family over the week-end. I doubt he has Maria in a B&B down the street on Sullivan’s Island. He is likely dealing with a rough go-round with Jenny and the boys and then gets splashed on the other side with bad information that Maria is in the US. It is easy enough to check passport information or have a connection to that information and it will likely show that the OTHER woman is still in South America.
By Martha August 24, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Having worked for the U.S. Government, I know that passport information is Top Secret. Journalists cannot access that.
By Martha August 24, 2009 at 8:16 pm
My husband found this; he says it is Mark’s song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBDfju1F76M
By MKinVA August 24, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Jean: “no one in their right mind,” please name someone in this whole sorry mess who fits that description. Maybe Cubby? Or one of the “Tom Davises of the world?” Maybe one of the Christian friends of Sanford who suggested that Sanford “shoot” Maria “in the head?”
Lin: “It is easy enough to check passport information” Really? I’m sure Homeland Security would like to know what you know. They can’t even keep up with terrorists who are on the watch list!
By shiya August 24, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Lin,
Given that people are suspicious of his every move and his motives, you would think the gov would go the EXTRA MILE to be transparent instead of playing hide and seek with the public.
By yarrrrr August 24, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I really really doubt this…
By anonymous August 24, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Jenny! Jenny!
8-6-7-5-3-0-9
867-5309 Jenny Jenny – LIVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axLRUszuu9I
By Todd August 24, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I agree with shiya. If Jenny and the boys had let Mark on the island this past weekend, SOMEBODY would have shouted it to the world from the roof tops. Leaked pictures of his doing something fatherly with the boys. Would have said, he is spending private time with his family or something. not a word. If Chapur was NOT in the states (on in the state of SC in particular), SOMEBODY would have said so from Argentina. This site is allegedly getting a bunch of hits from down under. Somebody would have rammed it down Sic’s throat a couple of weeks ago. Are MS and his advisors that stupid?
By Bizarro August 24, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Who in their right mind has a spiritual advisor??
What a joke – does he have a lifeline to God?
.
Quite the holy roller B.S. and resign.
By MKinVA August 24, 2009 at 9:52 pm
“speculation that apparently made its way to at least one other news outlet” Which other news outlet? Mainstream?
By BIN News Editorial Staff August 24, 2009 at 9:58 pm
guanabee.com wrote:
“According to South Carolina political gossip site FITS…”
Wow! They called fits a: “political gossip site.”
They have sic(k) willie defined perfectly!
sic(k) willie always has the freshest gossip.
Made while we wait. Like in a cow pasture.
Like his wacko claim that a Midlands’ elected official has a Strom problem, like his oddball claim of a SLED “beatdown squad,” like him trying to “dig gold” over the grave of a “poor little black girl.”
Ever hear facts? Details? Named sources?
No. Nothing but cow dung from sic(k) willie.
guanabee.com is really just part right.
sic(k) willie is part political gossip, part political pimp, part voucher clown, part soft core porn master (fits would be nothing without the soft porn) and a totally insignificant wart on S.C. :)
Ignore him. Eventually his minimal resources will dry up (like sanfraud) and he will get a real job. Busing tables for minimum wage plus tips.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By Jeffy August 24, 2009 at 10:43 pm
They probably are staying with BIN in the basement. No doubt playing HALO all night long.
By Heelofaguy August 24, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Shiya: That is not Cubby Culberson (of Columbia) in your link. Nice try.
By Candi August 25, 2009 at 12:05 am
If this was true, I am sure Jenny Sanford would know about it and her friends wouldn’t be on Network news announcing that they are working on their marriage. I agree that this other woman has enough issues to deal with in her own home, especially coming from a prominent Catholic family. Also, couldn’t imagine her wanting anything to do with Mark Sanford now that he is politically and financially washed up especially if divorce is in the works.
By MKinVA August 25, 2009 at 9:16 am
But Candi apparently it’s the girlfriends who are feeding this. See other story: “with First Lady Jenny Sanford’s “Housewife Mafia” fueling the speculation about Sanford and Chapur” Does this make the reports more or less credible? Can’t decide.
By Laura Campbell August 25, 2009 at 9:58 am
BIN News:
You know that your rants and insults are part of what makes this such an awesome website. I don’t care too much for the articles like “Ballet Never Had It So Good” or the lack of unnamed sources, and I disagree with FITS on just about all of their political views.
But if you read the articles, they usually do turn out to be accurate.
Please keep posting here. It’s wonderful entertainment. And give the devil his due. I doubt anyone would even read BIN were it not for your association with FITS site. And that’s not just lip service, FITS. Keep rockin the blogosphere!
By shiya August 25, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Heelo,
That link leads to a photo on Flickr. If its wrong, I will be more than happy to request FITs to delete my post.
By Steve September 2, 2009 at 1:47 am
It matters because he lied to his wife,if you will lie to your souse and betray her…you will do that to anyone. The point you raise is just whats wrong with politicians,they have no character. The problem with Washington and State Government is there are very few people who have any character.When we threw God out of our schools and begin giving them to people entering prison we haave hit rock bottom.