Mark Sanford disappearance and extramarital affair

Mark Sanford disappearance and extramarital affair

For six days in June 2009, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's whereabouts were unknown and there was media coverage of what was described as his disappearance. Subsequently the Governor reappeared and reported that he had been in Argentina with a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair. He stated that in 2001 he met and became friends with this woman and that they started having a sexual relationship in 2008. His wife became aware of the relationship in January 2009, and it was later revealed that two weeks prior to June 24 Sanford and his wife had begun a trial separation. The woman was later identified as Maria Belén Chapur, an Argentine journalist.

Contents

Early history

The early history of the relationship between Chapur and Sanford was not publicly known until 2009. In 2001, Chapur and Sanford met at an open air dance in Uruguay. The couple met again at a New York bistro in 2004. Two other meetings in New York occurred later; one with Sanford accompanied by a spiritual advisor with the knowledge of his wife. According to reports from Sanford, the two engaged in sexual relations in 2008 during an economic development trip Sanford made to Argentina.[1]

Disappearance

From June 18 until June 24, 2009, the whereabouts of Governor Sanford were unknown to the public, including his wife and State Law Enforcement Division, which provides security for him. This six day disappearance garnered nationwide news coverage. His state and personal phones were turned off and he did not respond to phone or text messages. That prompted some to believe that he was missing and raised questions about who was acting as governor of South Carolina. His wife, Jenny Sanford, initially stated that she was not concerned and that he needed time away from their children to write something.[2] Sanford has apparently made similar disappearances in the past, although this was the longest.[3] After media speculation grew, Sanford's office on June 22 stated that he told them where he was going before he left and that he would be "difficult to reach."[4] Later that day, Sanford's spokesman, Joel Sawyer, told the press that Sanford was hiking the Appalachian Trail.[5]

Some South Carolina politicians voiced concerns about the governor's behavior. Lieutenant Governor André Bauer announced that he could not "take lightly that his staff has not had communication with him for more than four days, and that no one, including his own family, knows his whereabouts."[5] The Senate Minority Leader, Democrat John Land, also questioned the fact that Sanford was absent over the Father's Day weekend, arguing that "it's one thing for the boys to go off by themselves, but on Father's Day to leave your family behind? That's erratic."[2]

On June 23, spokesman Sawyer reported that Sanford had contacted his staff that morning—after apparently being out of touch with them for five days—and expressed surprise at all of the attention to his absence. Sawyer announced that the governor had decided to return to work the next day.[2]

Extramarital affair disclosed

On June 24, Sanford arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, at 5:43 am on Delta Air Lines Flight 110 from Buenos Aires, Argentina.[6] He was met at the airport by only one reporter, The State's Gina Smith, who had received a tip that the governor was in Argentina and, on a "hunch", went to the Atlanta Airport to meet a flight arriving from Argentina.[7][8][9] He gave her a brief sit-down interview, wherein he claimed that he was alone for the entire trip, and did not give any other details than that he drove the coastline.[8] Sanford said that he had considered hiking the Appalachian trail, but at the last minute decided to do something "exotic".[8][10] Sanford redeemed an award ticket on Delta Air Lines Skymiles frequent flyer program.[11]

When asked why his staff said he was hiking, Sanford replied, "I don't know." He later said "in fairness to his staff," he had told them he might do such hiking. Sanford said he cut his trip short after his chief of staff, Scott English, told him his trip was gaining a lot of media attention and he needed to come back.[12] These events prompted Republican state senator Jake Knotts to comment, "Lies. Lies. Lies. That's all we get from his staff. That's all we get from his people. That's all we get from him."[10]

Several hours after arriving back in the United States, Sanford held a press conference, where he admitted that he had been unfaithful to his wife.[8][13] He told reporters that he had developed a relationship with an Argentinian woman that he had met "a little over eight years ago, very innocently,"[14] and that the relationship had turned romantic about a year before.[8] Jenny Sanford had been made aware of his infidelities in January 2009 after discovering a letter that Sanford had written to an Argentine woman.[15]

In emotional interviews with the Associated Press over two days, Mark Sanford said he would die "knowing that I had met my soul mate."[16] Sanford acknowledged secretly meeting Chapur five times in 2009, including two multi-night stays, one in New York City and one in the Hamptons, paying expenses in cash to avoid detection.[17] Sanford also said that he "crossed the lines" with a handful of other women during 20 years of marriage, but not as far as he did with his mistress. "There were a handful of instances wherein I crossed the lines I shouldn't have crossed as a married man, but never crossed the ultimate line," he said.[16]

Sanford and his wife had sought marriage counseling.[8] She said that she requested a trial separation about two weeks before his disappearance.[18] Governor Sanford also told reporters that months before his affair became public he had sought counsel at a controversial religious organization called The Family, of which he became a member when he was a Representative in Washington, D.C. from 1995 to 2001.[19] Two other leading Republican politicians who were members of The Family, Senator John Ensign and former Congressman Chip Pickering, also were caught engaging in extra-marital affairs around the same time frame as Governor Sanford.[20]

María Belén Chapur

On June 25, La Nación, a Buenos Aires newspaper, identified the Argentinian woman as María Belén Chapur (also reported as Maria Belen Shapur), a 43-year-old divorced mother of two sons who speaks four languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Chinese. She lives in the upscale district of Palermo, Buenos Aires.[21] The State published details of e-mails between Sanford and a woman only identified as "Maria".[22] Chapur, in a statement made to C5N (in Buenos Aires), confirmed the relationship, but refused to discuss the matter in detail - pointing out that e-mails between her and Sanford made public days on June 24 were a result of having had her computer hacked.[23] The Wall Street Journal (6/26/09 p. A3) notes that she has avoided contact with reporters despite local media interest in Argentina. In news conferences, Sanford has called Chapur his soulmate.[24]

As the affair was reported, more background information on Chapur was reported in the American press. Chapur received a political science degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina and had previously worked as a translator and correspondent in 2001 for Canal América 2, an Argentine television station, and filed television news reports for the station's New York City bureau in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.[25]

In May 2010, several months after the conclusion of proceedings against Sanford, he visited Chapur in Florida with the intention of rekindling their relationship.[26]

In August 2011, in an interview with the New York Times, Sanford was asked whether it was still the case that Chapur was his "soul mate". He responded, "I would say that I have more than well described all of my emotions and feelings toward Maria. And out of fairness to my boys and to folks that I’ve hurt, I’m not going to say more than this: any of those seemingly goofy feelings that I described a couple years back have intensified, not dissipated, with time." He also stated that "We see each other as we can."[27]

Immediate aftermath

Sanford resigned as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association.[28][29]At the time, Sanford has not commented about the possibility of resigning his position as governor.[8]

"Backroom political maneuvering may keep him in office another 18 months, but everyone knows his governorship, and likely any political future, is over," opined Dr. Benjamin Ladner in The State on July 2, 2009.[30]

Sanford remained with his family on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at his beach home [31] and was planning to return to work for cabinet meetings the next day.[32] Mrs. Sanford and their children moved out of the governor's mansion on August 7, 2009, leaving Sanford behind.[33]

Later, Sanford indicated he had no intention of resigning, even though some State officials and citizens alike called for his resignation.[34] However, Sanford defended the legitimacy of his trip, organized by the South Carolina Department of Commerce, but said that he would reimburse the government for the Argentina part of a previous two country trip.[32]

Impeachment proceedings and censure

On August 25, state representatives Nathan Ballentine and Gary Simrill met with Sanford and warned him that the state legislature would impeach him if he did not resign. Ballentine, an ally of Sanford's, said afterward, "I told him the writing is on the wall. ...he could put an end to it all, but if he doesn't, members of the House will take things into their hands." Sanford declined to resign.[35]

On August 28, The Washington Times reported that Republican legislators in South Carolina were "laying plans" for a special legislative session on whether to impeach Sanford. Two bills of impeachment were being prepared; they had bipartisan support in the state legislature.[36]

On October 23, two impeachment resolutions were introduced, but were blocked by Democrats in the South Carolina legislature.[37] A month later, the resolution was successfully introduced and it was announced that an ad hoc committee would begin drafting articles of impeachment starting on November 24.[38] Meanwhile, the Ethics Commission formally charged the Governor with 37 violations.[39]

On December 3, during its third public hearing on the matter, the ad hoc committee unanimously voted to drop the vast majority of charges from the investigation, saying that they did not warrant "overturning an election."[40] On December 9, the committee voted 6-1 against impeachment. However, they did vote unanimously to censure the governor.[41] On the 16th the full House Judiciary Committee voted 15-6 for censure, formally ending the process.[42]

Among the reasons given for the decision not to remove Sanford from office included the fact that his governorship was going to expire in any event come January, 2011 (Sanford was term limited and ineligible for re-election) and the fact that André Bauer (the man who would have replaced him) was seen to be a rival to others with serious interest in obtaining the 2010 Republican nomination for governor.

Post governorship

After leaving office, Sanford was photographed in January 2011 by the Argentinian magazine Caras (faces) together with Chapur at a Uruguayan resort Punta del Este.[43]

In August 2011, in an interview with the New York Times, Sanford was asked whether it was still the case that Chapur was his "soul mate". He responded, "I would say that I have more than well described all of my emotions and feelings toward Maria. And out of fairness to my boys and to folks that I’ve hurt, I’m not going to say more than this: any of those seemingly goofy feelings that I described a couple years back have intensified, not dissipated, with time."[44]

References

  1. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_re_us/us_sc_governor[dead link]
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Bruce; Michael R. Baker (2009-06-23). "Spokesman: SC governor plans to return Wednesday". Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jG3Xqgk_yvHFCxzYZIaivTgoMo0gD990E3280. Retrieved 24 June 2009. [dead link]
  3. ^ John O'Connor and Clif LeBlanc (June 22, 2009). "Sanford, missing since Thursday, reportedly located". The State. http://www.thestate.com/local/story/836552.html. 
  4. ^ Chris Cillizza (June 22, 2009). "Where in the World is Mark Sanford?". Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/governors/where-in-the-world-is-mark-san.html?wprss=thefix. Retrieved 24 June 2009. 
  5. ^ a b Jim Davenport (June 23, 2009). "SC governor to return to work after mystery trip". Yahoo! News (Associated Press). http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090623/ap_on_re_us/us_sc_governor_where;_ylt=Atg6S.ATRAt5E1DCZeKYmWlH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTM0ZDBvOGljBGFzc2V0Ay9hcC8yMDA5MDYyMy9hcF9vbl9yZV91cy91c19zY19nb3Zlcm5vcl93aGVyZQRjcG9zAzYEcG9zAzYEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNzcG9rZXNtYW5zY2c-. Retrieved 24 June 2009. [dead link]
  6. ^ Delta Air Lines Flight 110 June 23-24, 2009 SAEZ-KATL FlightAware.com
  7. ^ Arango & Biran Stelter, "For Press, Rumors that the Governor Was Straying, but no Hard Evidence," New York Times, June 25, 2009, National Ed., p.A14.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g LeBlanc, Clif; O'Connor, John (24 June 2009). "Sanford admits affair, wife Jenny responds". The State. http://www.thestate.com/sanford/story/839231.html. Retrieved 24 June 2009. 
  9. ^ Phillips, Kate (24 June 2009). "Sanford Resurfaces — From Argentina". The New York Times. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/sanford-resurfaces-from-argentina/?hp. Retrieved 24 June 2009. 
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  11. ^ http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0609/Exclusive_Sanford_booked_10day_getaway.html?showall
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  13. ^ Alex Roth; Valerie Bauerlein (June). "Sanford Says He Had Extramarital Affair". Columbia, SC: Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124584667616347147.html. Retrieved June 24, 2009. 
  14. ^ Bigg, Matthew (24 June 2009). "S. Carolina Gov. admits extramarital affair". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2419773520090624. Retrieved 24 June 2009. 
  15. ^ Wall Street Journal, June 27, 2009, p. A3
  16. ^ a b Lush, Tamara and Berland, Evan (June 30, 2009). "AP Newsbreak: SC gov 'crossed lines' with women." AP. Retrieved on July 28, 2009.[dead link]
  17. ^ http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/sanford-99478-chapur-affair.html
  18. ^ Davenport, Jim (24 June 2009). "SC Gov. Sanford admits affair after going AWOL". Associated Press. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/06/24/sc_governor_who_took_hiking_trip_to_return_to_work/. Retrieved 24 June 2009. 
  19. ^ Collins, Michael (July 10, 2009). "Wamp, housemates hurt by links to scandals." Knoxnews. Retrieved on July 27, 2009.
  20. ^ Roig-Franzia, Manuel (June 26, 2009). "Politicians' Scandals Elevate the Profile of a Spiritual Haven on C Street SE". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062504480.html. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
  21. ^ "Sanford's Mistress Identified As Professional, Passionate And Beautiful Brunette | FoxNews.com". foxnews.com. 25 June, 2009. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/25/sanfords-mistress-identified-professional-passionate-beautiful-brunette/. Retrieved August 30, 2011. 
  22. ^ Exclusive, Read e-mails between Sanford, woman, The State, June 25, 2009.
  23. ^ MSNBC: Argentine admits affair with S.C. governor
  24. ^ http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_530661.shtml?v=2043
  25. ^ Hendren, John (2009-06-28). "S.C. Gov. Considered Resigning But Will Complete His Term". ABC. http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=7950404&page=3. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
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  27. ^ Goldman, Andrew (August 5, 2011). "mark-sanford-is-still-in-love". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/magazine/mark-sanford-is-still-in-love.html. 
  28. ^ Montopoli, Brian (June 24, 2009). "Sanford Admits Extramarital Affair". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/24/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5110133.shtml. Retrieved June 24, 2009. 
  29. ^ "Sanford admits affair". The Politico. 24 June 2009. http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/0609/Sanford_admits_affair.html. Retrieved 24 June 2009. 
  30. ^ Benjamin Ladner. "Ladner: The Sanford Saga - Enough! The State, July 2, 2009.
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  32. ^ a b "South Carolina governor apologizes to Cabinet - CNN.com". CNN. June 26, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/26/south.carolina.sanford.governor/index.html. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
  33. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32331406/ns/politics-more_politics/?gt1=43001
  34. ^ http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090716/OPINION/907160303/1004/NEWS01/Phil-Noble--A-dad-s-perspective-on-Mark-Sanford/
  35. ^ Hamby, Peter (2009-08-25). "First on the Ticker: 'The writing is on the wall,' ally tells Sanford". CNN. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/25/first-on-the-ticker-the-writing-is-on-the-wall-ally-tells-sanford/. 
  36. ^ Hallow, Ralph Z. (2009-08-28). "S.C. GOP to push for Sanford's removal". The Washington Times. http://www.washtimes.com/news/2009/aug/28/sanford-future-in-hands-of-gop/. 
  37. ^ Fausset, Richard (October 28, 2009). "Mark Sanford impeachment papers expected today". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-sanford-impeach28-2009oct28,0,2037447.story. Retrieved December 4, 2009. 
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  40. ^ O'Connor, John (December 4, 2009). "28 ethics charges dropped against Sanford". The State. http://www.thestate.com/local/story/1054842.html. Retrieved December 4, 2009. 
  41. ^ http://www.thestate.com/local/story/1063834.html
  42. ^ http://www.thestate.com/news-extras/story/1074331.html
  43. ^ Warren, Michael (January 27, 2011). "Ex-South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, Maria Belen Chapur Photos From Uruguay Resort". Associated Press. http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/weird-news/Ex-South-Carolina-Governor-Mark-Sanford-Maria-Belen-Chapur-Photos-From-Uruguay-Resort-114709654.html. 
  44. ^ Goldman, Andrew (August 5, 2011). "mark-sanford-is-still-in-love". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/magazine/mark-sanford-is-still-in-love.html. 

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