South Carolinians Stunned by Governor's Admissions

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S.C. Governor Sanford Admits to Affair

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admits to an affair with a woman from Argentina. Media reports circulated earlier in the week when the governor could not be located by staff or family.

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Sanford's travels cost taxpayers at least $9,000 in airfare, lodging, meals and phone charges, according to state records. Sanford said in a statement Thursday he would reimburse the state for the costs.

"While the purpose of this trip was an entirely professional and appropriate business development trip, I made a mistake while I was there in meeting with the woman who I was unfaithful to my wife with," Sanford said in the statement. "That has raised some very legitimate concerns and questions, and as such I am going to reimburse the state for the full cost of the Argentina leg of this trip."

Reggie Lloyd, the director of the State Law Enforcement Division, responsible for Sanford's security, held an unusually frank conference call with reporters Thursday to explain how his office, too, was deceived.

Last week, Sanford left the governor's mansion alone in a state-issued SUV and told his security detail to "stand down," Lloyd said.

"As an adult male, he's free to come and go as he pleases," he said. "There were times when he would want to get away. He's been in office 6 1/2 years. He very much values his time away from the office. It had become routine enough that it was not suspicious."

Security agents did not become concerned about Sanford's safety until they heard he had been spotted speeding on a South Carolina interstate on Saturday, Lloyd said. The security agency's efforts to reach Sanford's staff were unsuccessful for many hours, the devices used to locate the vehicle had been turned off and agents could not determine the governor's location, Lloyd said. Finally, by tracking telephone records, they determined Sanford made a call from his cell phone from the Atlanta area.

Throughout Columbia's downtown, in hotel elevators, at restaurant tables and in fabric shops, people said they were stunned by their governor's predicament and the attention it has brought their state.

"Every time South Carolina's in the news, it's always a negative," lamented Schinita Goodwin, 53, as she measured one yard of white chiffon for a customer who was sewing her daughter a wedding dress. "I think he should resign. He's an embarrassment to his state and to his wife and his family."

Maureen Brazel, 54, a car saleswoman from the suburb of Lake Carolina, was befuddled that Sanford would write such evocative e-mails to his lover.

"If you're married, you're married," Brazel said. "You shouldn't be doing stuff like that. And writing it down? . . . How stupid can he be?"

Should Sanford go willing or is drummed out of office, Lt. Gov. André Bauer (R) would take over. But the political calculations have long since begun. Bauer, who does not get along with Sanford, instantly would become the party's presumptive nominee for the 2010 governor's race, hurting the chances of other prominent Republicans who are in the throes of their campaigns. But Tom Davis is not the only South Carolinian willing to give Sanford a second chance.

"I don't think [the affair] changes the fact that he's a quality governor," said Chris Hinely, 35, downtown Columbia's "Peanut Man" who sells Low Country Cajun and boiled nuts a few steps from the Capitol. "You can go pick out a group of people anywhere in the United States, and you can find a person in an extramarital affair."

And like many, Davis said, the Sanfords are trying repair their marriage.

"They do love each other," he said after speaking with Jenny Sanford on Thursday.

"They're extremely strong-willed." The question remains, though: How strong-willed is South Carolina?

Staff writer Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report. Carol Leonnig reported from Washington.