Funding For Sanford's Argentina Trips Questioned

Now that the truth has come out about Gov. Mark Sanford’s affair with a woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina, questions have surfaced about where the money came from to pay for Sanford’s trips to South America.

Sanford’s aides told Eyewitness News reporter Greg Suskin that the governor was at his home on Sullivan’s Island with his wife and family, and denied that any public funds had been used to pay for his trips.

In a statement late Thursday afternoon, Sanford said he would reimburse the state for one of his trips to Buenos Aires, saying that while the trip was taken for legitimate business purposes, he had met with the woman with whom he had the affair while there.

Sanford Travel Expenses Statement

Suskin filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get Sanford’s public travel records.

Staff members would not speak on camera, and it was remarkably quiet around the statehouse. State Republican chairwoman Karen Floyd was available, however, and commented on calls for Sanford to step down.

“I can tell you that this is a man that was very contrite. The state of South Carolina is extremely forgiving, and it will be borne out in the next few days,” she said.

Sanford’s top press aide, Joel Sawyer, told Suskin that the governor will not resign. A spokesman for Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said he was out of town and had nothing to say.

An e-mail from the office of S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster said that until he knows all the facts, any speculation about legal action against Sanford is premature.