Sanford contradicts himself on meetings with mistress
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/06/30/sanford/art.sanford.gi.jpg caption=" Gov. Mark Sanford has said it's better for him to keep his governorship to 'learn lessons.'"]
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford met with his Argentinian mistress more times than he originally admitted, Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer confirmed Tuesday.
After returning from a secret trip to Argentina unknown to his staff or wife last week, Sanford admitted to an extramarital affair, and said that he had seen his mistress three times in the past year.
But he told The Associated Press he had met with Maria Belen Chapur seven times, including five visits in the past 12 months.
Two of their meetings in the past year included multiple-night stays in New York, Sanford told the AP.
Sanford told the AP he met with Chapur a third time in New York on what was intended to be a goodbye visit. Sanford was accompanied by his spiritual adviser, the AP reported.
Sanford also told the AP of what he said were two non-romantic encounters - including their first meeting in 2001 in Uruguay and getting coffee in New York during the 2004 Republican National Convention.
"There was some kind of connection from the very beginning," he said to the AP.
Just what kind of married man feeling a connection with a female other than their wife would continue to have any kind of communication with that female?? This guy deserves to be sent out to dry from politics and from his role as a husband to his current wife. Let him go live with his mistress and see just how long the connection will last.