Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahet
Bet he used taxpayer money to go cheat on his wife in Argentina.
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Yes he did !
Sanford agreed to reimburse the state for part of the more-than $8,000 tab for a economic development trip, which enabled him to see his mistress in Argentina's capital city.
Exactly how much he needs to pay back has not yet been determined, Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said Saturday.
***The scandal deepened Friday when it was revealed Sanford asked the Commerce Department to extend a June 2008 Brazil trade mission to Argentina.
The governor said he saw his mistress during the trip. She lives in Buenos Aires. Sanford said this week that he plans to pay back the state for that leg of the trip.
Asked if the governor requested additional meetings in Argentina so he could see his girlfriend, Sanford press secretary Joel Sawyer said, "Absolutely not. It is important to remember the time line. When the meeting was arranged and the trip agenda was set, as the governor said the other day, he and this individual were friends and nothing more.
"The change of agenda was purely because the delegation was going to be in Argentina anyway and the governor thought it made sense to step into Buenos Aires as well." Some on the Brazil mission, including Sanford, took a hunting side-trip to Cordoba, Argentina, that they paid for out-of-pocket.
Sawyer said the Commerce Department set Buenos Aires as the destination for the official meetings Sanford wanted.
E-mails between Sanford and the woman indicate they had a sexual relationship during the time he was on that Commerce Department trip. The governor's office won't comment on the mistress' identity.
Sanford said he has known the mystery woman for eight years, but it was just a year ago that the relationship became romantic.
Commerce Marketing and Communications Manager Kara Borie said Sanford's request came several months before the trip took place. She said Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor suggested the hunting side trip on their own dime.
Sanford said that he's had his fair share of dove hunting and didn't want to spend five days doing it. So, he said he directed the Commerce Department to set up additional business meetings in the area. He said he did not specifically ask for the meetings to be held in Buenos Aires.
"What we said was in Argentina," Sanford said. "Obviously, the logical place there in Argentina is Buenos Aires because it is the commercial center of the country. I get how it looks."
The governor and a commerce official met with top elected leaders and business interests while in Argentina, according to travel documents. Borie said South Carolina has found establishing relationships with elected officials as a good gateway toward economic development.
Knotts and Rep. Joe McEachern, D-Columbia, said the potential misuse of tax dollars justify an investigation. Both men are former law enforcement officials.
Knotts said Sanford did not attempt to pay back the cost of the Argentina trip until he got caught. He said Sanford should resign, but at this point that should be the governor's decision.
"That is wrong, people," Knotts said. "There are people in the penitentiary today that would love to have the ability to have said, 'Hey, let me pay it back. I didn't mean to rob the local 7-Eleven.' "
McEachern said the governor should resign, in addition to an investigation.
"The citizens of this state have the right to have the facts out front," McEachern said.
Harrell said he is looking for more information on the situation as it becomes available. In the meantime, he said the governor should be asking himself if he believes he can be an effective leader.
McConnell said any investigations would be premature, but the questions raised are legitimate.
"As the evidence mounts about the use of public funds, that will increase, in my opinion, the concern about his continuing," McConnell said. The biggest question Sanford should ask himself is, does he believe he can he bring economic development to South Carolina and help the state climb out of a crippling recession, McConnell said. "I am going to wait and see how things unfold."
Sanford publicly admitted his extramarital affair on Wednesday within hours after a reporter for The State newspaper caught up with him at the Atlanta airport on his way home from Argentina.
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