Sanford took taxpayer-funded trip to Argentina last June
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/23/art.sanford1.gi.jpg caption="Sanford traveled to Brazil and Argentina last June."]COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - Mark Sanford visited Argentina exactly one year ago as part of a taxpayer-funded South Carolina Department of Commerce trade mission, according to a copy of the trip itinerary obtained by CNN.
Sanford revealed Wednesday that he began an affair with "a dear, dear friend" from Argentina last year.
It's unknown if Sanford spent time with the woman the during the trade mission, but the governor explained Wednesday that his relationship with her "sparked into something more" than just a friendship "about a year ago." He said he has known the woman for about eight years.
Sanford's office said the trip, like other trade missions, was organized by the Department of Commerce, not by the governor.
The South American swing took Sanford and several commerce officials to Brazil and Argentina for one week in June 2008, beginning on June 21.
After spending three days in Brazil, the delegation arrived in Cordoba, Argentina on June 24 - one year ago to the day Sanford emotionally admitted his extramarital affair at the state house in Columbia.
The following day, the group traveled to Buenos Aires - the city Sanford went back to last week, during his mysterious absence - for the final two nights of the trip. Members of the delegation were scheduled to stay at the Hilton Buenos Aires, located in the city's Puerto Madero district.
While the delegation spent much of their time meeting with diplomats and business leaders, several hours each day were allotted for "personal time." The group returned to Columbia on the morning of June 28 after taking an overnight flight.
According to state expenditure reports, Sanford's out-state travel expenses with the Department of Commerce totaled $21, 487 for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2008. Governors commonly travel out-of-state or abroad to stir up investment in their home states.
"All of the economic development trips taken by the governor are organized and run by the Department of Commerce," Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer told CNN.
Sanford said in a press conference Wednesday that he footed the bill for his most recent trip to Buenos Aires. The governor said earlier in the day he had traveled to Argentina several times before.
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SHAMEFUL!
SHAMEFUL!
SHAMEFUL!
PLEASE DO US A FAVOR AND RESIGN NOW!
PLEASE DO US A FAVOR AND RESIGN NOW!
PLEASE DO US A FAVOR AND RESIGN NOW!
PLEASE DO US A FAVOR AND RESIGN NOW!
PLEASE DO US A FAVOR AND RESIGN NOW!
PLEASE DO US A FAVOR AND RESIGN NOW!
PLEASE RESIGN NOW!!
PLEASE RESIGN NOW!!
PLEASE RESIGN NOW!!
PLEASE RESIGN NOW!!
PLEASE RESIGN NOW!!
PLEASE RESIGN NOW!!
You know, yeah, I'm gonna let it be. But boy, talk about news, huh?
I do feel bad, I do, I really do. You know, I get made fun, you get made fun of, etc. Is not like there's perfect people out there, I ain't perfect BUT there is one thing I will NEVER say or do...I will NEVER lie to a woman, oh no, never. I have 7 sister's, you tell me???
Trust me guys, I know how it is, me personally? I can't do that, oh no, I just can't, is just wrong, who can?? Just because most of the time in the Internet I talk like if I have no feelings doesn't mean I don't have any, I do, I care. Listen, I have friends, O.K? They even told you, O.K? You think is right??? The only thing I can pray or hope is that people learn from their mistakes.
Love is not asset or a privilege that you use, is an asset that takes care of your liabilities...(Awwww, like how I finished that, huh? LOL!!)
Later guys, I'm done. He'll be fine, they'll be fine.
You know, I always said forgiveness is for the fool but the fool always forgives...later guys.
(damn, another good one, LOL!!). And it took me less than 5 minutes to write this.
Am I the only one who thought it was strange for this guy to first
say he hurt his Argentinian mistress, then his staff and THIRDLY
HIS WIFE, AND FOURTH HIS SONS? Can I say, what a
JACKASS! He is sorry alright, in so many ways, but from his
point of view, he is only sorry he got caught.
Jesus f'ing Christ....whats with all the comments from other articles related to this matter that mention "ohh poor family" or "this isn't Christian" or whatever stupid religious comments people are making about this disaster of a human being.....the a-hole used taxpayer money to fulfill his stupid sexual desires......enough said!
Who cares if he did this crap with his own damn money and who cares about what his wife is going through......that shite happens all the damn time. But using taxpayer money when people are losing homes, jobs, etc....
Through this f'ing cunt in jail for 5 years and make sure he never holds public office again!! Waste of a human being is what he is!!
WTF.
This man has used state money to cheat on his wife and family he will go to his argentine mistriss and not give a damn about his fami;y
H e dissappeared for days he ran to hois misstress things did not go his way and his answer was to dessert his family and run to a Mistress. DOYOU REALLY WAN'T HIM IN CHARGE OF YOUR STATE
I hope his wife can get enough money now to support their childen or the State of South Carolina will be supporting his children while he is in Argentina with his whore
What a damn shame. I'm enjoying watching the republicans drown in hipocracy. (evil laugh) hahahhaa
Let's not make this a partisan matter. For once we need to stop counting who did better, who did worse. Today we learned that a human being lives in the Governor's mansion. Let it go. He's paying plenty for this one
Well Politico claimed on Hardball with Chris Matthews that they're coming out with an article pretty soon that he spent public funds to go to Buenos Aires.
Time to resign, Republican hypocrite!
Idiot. Too bad the Rethuglicans always preach that they know better than everyone else and have the God-given right to tell you how to behave in your own bedroom. It always comes back to bite them on the @$$ ...
Another Republican caught up in either scandel or corruption or both!!
When, Lord when? When will it end?
It will end when people STOP voting for Republicans and putting them in office!! This coming from the party of FAMILY VALUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right…. and I have some swampland in Florida and a bridge in Alaska to sell you!!
Stupid thats all I have to say
Now we know WHY he didn't want Federal Funds. With the funds comes auditing, with auditing, comes the revelation of what he was doing in Argentina, and he is outed. So...gov denies aid to his entire state just to cover up his illicit cross-continental affair!!!
Engage in unethical behavior or extramarital affair whatever you call it, if revealed apologize everyone to restore your lost credibility. Well I don’t think “APOLOGY” is a fairy tool to reclaim your lost dignity and ethics. We hold our elected officials to high ethics and moral standards. Where we look for directions when we find our elected official summarily failed on this issue with whom we put our trust and faith. I think it is time for him to go now regardless of his ability to govern the state.
This from the man who didn't want to take any stimulus money because it wouldn't be fair to the taxpayers? WHAT?!?!?!?
Someone please explain to me how he keeps his head from just simply exploding ...
Resign and do everyone in South Carolina a favor.
A shorter way to tell this story is : He's a republican. He lies and steals like they alllllll do. Regularly.