In what will no doubt go down as one of the most embarrassing episodes in the long, agonizing fall of S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, the Charleston Post and Courier‘s Tony Bartelme published a report Wednesday highlighting just how seriously some high-ranking federal officials took the mental breakdown that followed the governor’s admission of an extramarital affair with his Argentine lover, Maria Belen Chapur.
Using documents obtained by FOIA, Bartelme chronicles the saga surrounding Sanford’s security clearance with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which … get this … was actually revoked for a week after the governor’s rambling interview with the Associated Press in the days immediately following his admission.
From Bartelme’s must read story:
In a certified letter to Sanford dated July 1, Katherine Janosek, chief of the DHS Personnel Security Division, wrote that the “Office of Security has suspended your access to classified information” with the agency.
She explained that the “suspension is based on recent actions and statements by you that raise questions about your judgment, lack of candor, reliability, trustworthiness and ability to protect classified information.”
Janosek also sent a memo to Maj. Scott W. Prill, the State Law Enforcement Division’s Homeland Security director, advising him of the security clearance suspension.
“This action was taken due to recently reported information to this office,” the memo said. “… Please ensure that Governor Sanford does not have access to any classified information until further notice.”
Sanford’s clearance was reinstated a week later, but damn! How embarrassing …
So much for Sanford’s stated desire to be a “secret agent man …”
By Jonny D September 16, 2009 at 5:06 pm
as you note, access was quickly reinstated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83HEJp5EOHU
By Mab September 16, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Go Katherine! Nothing like psychiatry by force.
By CNSYD September 16, 2009 at 5:13 pm
And how did they ascertain he has regained any of the lost attributes? It ain’t evident to me.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' September 16, 2009 at 5:15 pm
That was embarrassing as Hell. What is even more embarrassing is that DHS restored his clearance.
By Strom's Daughter September 16, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Yeah, but he went undercover in Argentina, and it was Double-0 heaven.
Unlike under Jenny’s covers, where it was always “Dr. No.”
Too bad Maria doesn’t have a gold finger like Mrs. Sanford, though.
By Pamela September 16, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Holy Cow!!! Who knew this & when? I don’t why they reinstated, it he is still mentally unbalanced.
By southernmapart September 16, 2009 at 5:55 pm
So …. did Sanford have contact with the Russians during that week?
By 1 + 1 = 3 September 16, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Can they use this as evidence of abandonment in the impeachment hearing?
By SpyvsSpy September 16, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I sure as hell hope they suspended Sanford’s clearance again after that secret agent comment. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if that Argentine woman was a spy.
By by annie September 16, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Sounds crazy but wasn’t there a report that Maria and/or her family was connected to the Argentine mafia? She had an affair with the Ted Turner of Buenois Aires and when trouble started there it was hushed up – lots more to this mistress than we will ever know – wonder if it was all worth it Markie!!
By Soft Sigh From Hell September 16, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Tan-line temptations to treason? Did Markie make it with a Maria Hari?
By Mab September 16, 2009 at 8:42 pm
For those of you who missed the secret agent comment…
“You know, everybody is assigned their own secret-agent mission in life. And at times the tricky part, the hard part, is finding out what that secret-agent mission is. Some of us do it early, some of us do it later in life.”
~Mark Sanford
By I don't work for you. September 16, 2009 at 8:53 pm
He wouldn’t have gotten his clearance back if his C street, cult dwelling, circle jerking, power brokering buddies hadn’t made some calls.
He is still a loose cannon. Unfortunately, he has fellow cult dwellers in several positions of power.
By Jeffy September 16, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Candi no doubt will add the Feds to her list of folks who mis understand our great leader.
By southernmapart September 16, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I would not be so sure that “C” street has its finger on the control button where the Sanford Affair is concerned.
By Mike Honcho September 16, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Must read story? So that story that Tony wrote on July 10th wasn’t a must read story? You know, where he reports that the suspension in error was corrected.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jul/10/sanford_regains_security_clearance88772/
Now I see why you liked that Henry Mack pot story. Just because you threw your short term memory out the door doesn’t make this news.
By Willow September 16, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I have a question – Gov. Sanford is currently going around to speak to SC citizens and groups apologising and talking about his agenda for SC going forward, i.e., govt restructuring, economic development, etc. My question is Did he not do that in the previous years of his administration?
By alaindelon September 16, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Or Homeland security ascertained that Sinfraud is dumber than a box
of rocks therefore he poses no threat to the country…But after the
king David, secret agent,”I am a broken man” comments among others,Homeland security,the Air Force should review his record and deny him clearance permanently.
By 1 + 1 = 3 September 17, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Somebody pull it once and for all please!
AP INVESTIGATION: SC gov used European charters
By BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE and JIM DAVENPORT (AP) – 1 hour ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, already facing scrutiny for expensive taxpayer-funded flights, relied on charter jet services costing more than $63,000 when traveling in Europe on two state business trips, an Associated Press investigation has found.
…Commercial flights readily available for those trips would have saved the state $41,223, according to the average of current ticket prices listed on a Web booking site. But state officials said the governor and others couldn’t fly commercial because their meetings in various locales were scheduled too close together.
By AMAZING September 17, 2009 at 8:09 pm
AP INVESTIGATION: SC gov used European charters
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, already facing scrutiny for expensive taxpayer-funded flights, relied on charter jet services costing more than $63,000 when traveling in Europe on two state business trips, an Associated Press investigation has found.
Sanford, his commerce secretary and two other state officials charged taxpayers more than $43,000 for use of a seven-passenger executive jet for several days of travel from France to Germany and Estonia during a June 2007 trip, state records show.
Also, taxpayers paid more than $20,000 so the governor and three state officials could fly a seven-passenger charter jet earlier this year when traveling from Poland to the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland, according to the records.
Commercial flights readily available for those trips would have saved the state $41,223,
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i1C-xISvi5ddekzqmKJuvr2XJ3JQD9AP709G0
By by annie September 18, 2009 at 8:17 am
Gov Sanford has been out of control in his personal and professional life for some time and has been getting away with it – who did he take on his little “blowing off steam trips” and did they find their “soul mates too”-and more importantly was that with taxpayer money? drip drip drip!!