Washington (CNN) – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford confirmed Wednesday that he spent last weekend trying to rekindle a relationship with an Argentine woman he once called his "soul mate."
"As a matter of record, everybody in this room knows exactly who I was with over the weekend," Sanford told reporters during a press conference. "That is no mystery to anybody given what I said last summer. And you know the purpose was obviously to see if something could be restarted on that front, given the rather enormous geographic gulf between us, and time will tell, I don't know if it will or it won't."
The rendezvous was originally reported by the website Gawker after tipsters spotted Sanford and a tall brunette in the Florida Keys.
South Carolina's Attorney General decided last week that the Republican governor will not face criminal charges following an investigation into his travel and campaign expenses, a probe that started after media organizations began examining the governor's financial practices following his disclosure of the extramarital affair last June.
At Wednesday's press conference, Sanford pushed back against continued interest in his personal life, saying "[W]hat I do know is this, the obsession with one's personal life needs to come to an end."
Sanford, who is not running for re-election in November, had been considered a possible 2012 Republican presidential contender before he admitted his affair in a nationally televised statement.
In February, a judge granted a divorce to Sanford's wife, Jenny, who separated from her husband last summer.
From CNN Politics
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The GOP says they will treat our country like its their wife.....
In other words they will abandon us!
Sanford is a fool. And the people of South Carolina get what they deserve for leaving this idiot in the Governor's mansion.
The State of AZ has banned Ethnic Studies. Big mistake. We need Ethnic Studies so we can all understand what makes middle aged, WASP fools like this Governor Sanford tick.
And the woman in Argentina? Doesn't she get it? If he played around on his wife and F O U R sons with her, what makes her think he won't repeat the behavior?
A perfect couple: Both really dense.
We better not hear more from the Party of No about family values!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE leave this kind of reporting to the National Enquirer. It is embarassing to see you still perseverating on this loathesome manchild from the state of Bad Judgement.
I love how Rebups or even church-goers are held to a different standard from crunchy Granola eating, hippies like the libs in this country.
He handles his life like a true Republican...or do I mean a pre-teen? What a goof from the movement of goofs!
GAH! Does the stupidity of this creep know NO bounds?! I hope his kids arent watching the news.
If the people of South Carolina had one ounce of either backbone, common sense or moral fiber between the lot of them – they'd have thrown this guy out a long time ago.
Who needs to watch a soap opera when we have South Carolina???
Who called the press conference?
This makes South Carolina proud!
Huh, guess he really loves her after all. Whatever, good for him.
SOUTH CAROLINA'S FINEST RELIGOUS CONSERVATIVE:
Republican Governor and Hypocrite Mark Sanford.
He's divorced and it's his private life now. Let it go. So he's been a hypocrite. He joins thousands of other politicians. I don't begrudge him his private life, although I deplore the hypocrisy he has exercised. I'm thankful he's not my state's governor.
He's a pathetic mid-life crisis-ing weak greasy weasel. And you can quote me.
Billy and Franklin Graham's best example of GOP religious conservative leadership = = South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.
Mr. Sanford,
The issue is not that people should stop getting in your business. The point is that you and your Republican "family" people slam the morality of others and fully participate in the same behavior. The guy who takes his "baggage boy" to Europe, Haggard with his rubdowns, Gingrich with his affairs and divorces, and the former NY mayor with his multiple wives.
It is that you Republicans see yourselves as pillars of morality but when the spotlight is on you and your failings you do not much appreciate it.
Hypocrite.
Just another hypocritical Repugnant Republican...
"Do as I say, not as I do!"
Ahh yes ... family values as demonstrated by Messrs Gingrich, Sanford and others. Ever wonder how they twist Christian teachings to justify their actions to themselves?
Hey, the guy has paid the price in his personal and carreer life so he might as well see if he can enjoy some of the pleasure that he sought.
His ole lady is gone, the kids don't speak to him much and his carreer is for all intents and purposes over.
Whats to lose???
Hey Mark, what about your four sons? Is your mistress gong to be their new mom? Did you stop to think how your selfish decision will impact your sons for the rest of their lives?
No! You obviously didn't!
Ahh ..I just love a good love story with a happy ending..
Why don't this dumbie think about someone other than his self! Resign, get lost. Think about your children, you stupid fool.
Misery loves company!
When Sanford is an old man, he will wonder 'what was I thinking' to have destroyed his family like he did publicly because of strange flesh. He is telling his sons it's okay to justify ripping up a family for a little fun.