SLED Says No Improper Use of Public Funds, Governor Releases Records

**Thursday 4:00 p.m. Update**
Amy Wood's Live Blog
SLED says it found no improper use of public funds by Governor Mark Sanford during trips to Argentina and New York. SLED director Reggie Lloyd says the scope of the investigation was very narrow. they were only looking at the governor's relationship in relation to the trips he took.

Lloyd said Sanford was very cooperative and offered availability for an interview. He says there there is no evidence that a crime was committed. He says the trips were legitimate and Sanford or other entities such as the Republican Governors Association paid for other trips and expenses such as the governor's trip to New York in September and November 2008. SLED says the governor provided receipts and statements proving there was no use of taxpayer funds to pay for personal trips or expenses.

Lloyd says Sanford was questioned about instances of travel where he met with his mistress and how he paid for those and how he happened to be in those cities. He says everything Sanford said matched up with documents he provided.

The governor's office released this statement:

"We're pleased that SLED has concluded its review, which confirms what we've said from day one * no public money was used in relation to the governor's admitted marital infidelity. This issue is behind us once and for all. Now that SLED has finished its review, we believe it appropriate to also release the governor's personal travel records to the media, so that there can be full and complete disclosure and transparency." Read the public record | Read private record

Attorney general McMaster released the following statement:

""This office will review SLED's official report when it is received. I see no reason to doubt SLED's conclusions, their professionalism, or objectivity. Maintaining public trust, complete transparency, and full public disclosure is vitally important. That is why today I called on Governor Sanford to immediately release his travel records to the media and public as promised. The people of this state have twice elected me Attorney General. Rightfully so, they expect me to make the right calls regardless of the political considerations. I will not duck or abuse my constitutional responsibilities merely to satisfy those who seek a politically motivated fishing expedition."

A meeting is scheduled Monday between SLED, the S.C. ethics commission and the attorney general.

**Thursday 1:30 p.m. Update**

The State Law Enforcement Division will announce its findings after an investigation into Governor Sanford's finances Thursday at 2 p.m.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina's top prosecutor is calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to publicly release travel records tied to his affair with an Argentine woman.
State Attorney General Henry McMaster said Thursday that full disclosure of the information is important and that Sanford should keep his word to release the records.
Sanford's office had promised the documents to The Associated Press, but changed its mind after the State Law Enforcement Division launched an investigation into the governor's travel.
The documents were made available to investigators, and results of that probe were to be released Thursday afternoon.
Sanford has hunkered down but said he won't resign as top state Republicans and several newspapers call for him to quit.

Statement from Governor Sanford's Office:
The governor has no plans to step aside, temporarily or otherwise. He remains committed and determined to repair the damage he has done in his marriage and to building back the trust of the people of South Carolina.

He will be spending the long Fourth of July holiday weekend with his family, leaving for Florida tomorrow morning. The Sanford family asks members of the media to respect their privacy while they are together this weekend. The Sanfords also hope to take a longer family vacation toward the end of July.

He's spending most of today at the Mansion, continuing to touch base with state officials, family, friends and supporters.

**Thursday 6:30am Update**

Meanwhile, Sanford backed out of the promise he made to release his financial records. Sanford had said he would show them to prove he did not use state money to see his mistress. He took that promise back a day later.

**Wednesday 6:30pm Update**
U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett has become the first South Carolina congressman to ask Gov. Mark Sanford to resign, saying people have lost confidence in him after his extramarital affair was revealed, the Associated Press reports

The Republican told The Associated Press he called the governor Wednesday and told him it would be best for him to quit. Barrett says Sanford can no longer be the effective leader the state needs as South Carolina's unemployment rate tops 12 percent.

Barrett joins several fellow Republicans who have asked for the governor's resignation after Sanford revealed new details this week in an interview with the AP about his affair with an Argentine woman. Barrett is running for governor next year. Sanford can't run again because of term limits.

**Wednesday 4:10pm Update**
Tom Davis released the following statement:
"I came to Columbia today because I have a responsibility to the taxpayers of Beaufort County and the people of South Carolina. Obviously I have tremendous concern for my friends, Mark and Jenny Sanford and their family, but I also have a job to do as an elected official.
Before any important decision I make comes due diligence, and I owe it to my constituents to perform that due diligence before taking a public position on an issue as important as whether to call for the resignation of a duly-elected statewide official.
Accordingly, I have met today with the governor and members of his staff; I have had telephone conversations with my friend, Jenny Sanford; I have talked with the governor's legislative supporters and opponents; and I have talked with key reform leaders who have been fighting for the issues I believe in - fiscal responsibility, limited government, market principles and individual liberty.
I am also planning on speaking today with Attorney General Henry McMaster and SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd, and am I particularly interested in learning the outcome of SLED's review as to whether the governor has ever illegally used any state funds. I am told that review will be completed by tomorrow.
Again, this is a critical decision for the State of South Carolina and I want to rely on firsthand conversations, not media reports, rumors, political pressure or speculation.
Based on these conversations, I expect to form my official position very shortly. But I can assure you that whatever official position I ultimately reach will be one that I truly believe to be in the best interests of the people of Beaufort County in particular and the state of South Carolina in general.
In the meantime, I would encourage all South Carolinians to keep the Sanfords in their thoughts and prayers."

**Wednesday 3:25pm Update**
South Carolina Republican Party Chairwoman Karen Floyd released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

"For the past two days, I have been speaking with Republican leaders across South Carolina. There is clearly a growing view that the time may have come for Governor Sanford to remove himself and his family from the limelight, so that he can devote his efforts full-time to repairing the damage in his personal life."

**Wednesday 2:50pm Update**

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The majority of South Carolina's state Senate Republicans are calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to leave
office. The growing chorus of lawmakers who've publicly announced or told The Associated Press they want the philandering governor gone reached 14 Wednesday. There are 27 Republicans in the Senate - a 46-member chamber the party controls.
The tally shows the erosion of the governor's support but has no practical effect. Any impeachment move would have to begin in the GOP-controlled House. However, the Senate is where Sanford has drawn the most support from lawmakers. The defectors include five of his dozen closest allies. Sanford chronicled his affair with an Argentine woman in interviews with The Associated Press this week.

**Wednesday 12:50pm Update**

South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler called for the resignation of Governor Mark Sanford.
"While I believe an investigation should still be done to determine the full extent of Mark Sanford's abuse of power, though his long stream of confessions he has already revealed enough immoral and reprehensible behavior to justify asking him to step done. State officials seem unable to do anything except worry and talk about Governor Sanford's extramarital affair, which we learn more about every few hours. Every day that is spent not focused on the issues that matter the most to our state, particularly jobs and education, is another day that our state suffers. Every day that members of the General Assembly spend talking about Sanford's state-funded romance is another day these Republican leaders aren't tackling the rising unemployment numbers or the plight of our public schools. South Carolina can't afford to be at a standstill for the next 18 months with a governor who ignores his job responsibilities while pursuing personal interests. Any other worker in South Carolina would be fired for not showing up at work with no notice."

**Wednesday 10:45am Update**

The State newspaper has obtained three audio portions of the interview given by Governor Mark Sanford to the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Audio clips of Governor Mark Sanford interview to the Associated Press on Tuesday are below. If you are having trouble playing the audio from the link then right click on the link and select "save target as".

"Willing to pay the price"
"Something there"
"Love Story"

***Update 10 p.m Tuesday***

South Carolina's senate republican party leader is calling on Gov. Sanford to resign. Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler of Gaffney says Tuesday's developments (see below) hurt the governors ability to lead the state.

NewsChannel 7 is hearing from other state lawmakers who plan to call for the same, in the coming days.

The Governor has so far, said he does not plan to resign, and is expected to be spending the next few days at the coast.

Tuesday, in an interview with the AP, Gov. Mark Sanford said he "crossed lines" with a handful of women other than his mistress, but never had sex with them. The governor says he "never crossed the ultimate line" with anyone but Maria Belen Chapur, the Argentine at the center of a scandal that has derailed Sanford's once-promising political career.

During an emotional interview at his Statehouse office, Sanford said Chapur is his soul mate but he's trying to fall back in love with his wife. He says that during the other encounters he "let his guard down" with some physical contact but "didn't cross the sex line." He wouldn't go into detail.
Sanford said the casual encounters happened outside the U.S. while he was married but before he met Chapur.

***Update Tuesday 6:00 p.m.***

Read Amy Wood's blog - "Mark Sanford: Duct Tape Anyone?"

***Update Tuesday 2:37 p.m.***

Gov. Sanford Issues Statement on SLED Involvement

Columbia, S.C. - June 30, 2009 - Governor Mark Sanford today issued the following statement on Attorney General McMaster calling for a preliminary investigation of the governor's travel in relation to his acknowledged marital infidelity:

"We're pleased that SLED will look into this matter," Gov. Sanford said. "There's been a lot of speculation and innuendo on whether or not public moneys were used to advance my admitted unfaithfulness. To be very clear: no public money was ever used in connection with this. We believe the best way to put those questions to rest once and for all is for SLED to ask these questions, and we plan on cooperating fully."

***Update Tuesday 2:00 p.m.***
AG asks SLED to investigate governor

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Attorney General Henry McMaster says he
has requested that the State Law Enforcement Division investigate
Gov. Mark Sanford after revelations involving his extramarital
affair.
McMaster says he wants a review of all of Sanford's travel
records in light of Tuesday's disclosures.
Sanford admitted to more encounters with his Argentine mistress
than he previously has disclosed in an interviews with The
Associated Press during the past two days.
The governor described seven meetings with the woman, including
their first in 2001. Sanford says there have been five over a
12-month period, including two multi-night stays with her in New
York.
It was the first disclosure of any get-togethers with her in the
United States and contradicted a public confession last week during
which he admitted to four encounters in the past year.

***Update Tuesday 1:25 p.m.***

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Gov. Mark Sanford admitted today he saw
his Argentine mistress more times than previously disclosed.
Sanford told The Associated Press one of the trips included what
was supposed to be a farewell meeting in New York chaperoned by a
spiritual adviser soon after his wife found out about the affair.
Sanford described five meetings with Maria Belen Chapur over the
past year, including two romantic, multi-night stays in New York
before they met there again intending to break up.
He says he met her first in 2001 at an open-air dance spot in
Uruguay and a coffee date in New York in 2004 during the Republican
National Convention. He says neither time was romantic.
It was the first disclosure of any liaisons with Chapur in the
United States. It contradicts a confession after his trip to
Argentina last week.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

***Update Tuesday 11:04 a.m.***

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's admitted extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina could cost him up to $500 and a year in jail under an antiquated state law.

A state law that dates to at least 1880 says adultery is a crime, no matter where it occurred, and that adulterers "shall be severally punished."

But constitutional attorney John Harrell of Charleston says the law hasn't been used in decades, possibly not since 1907.

A spokeswoman for the State Law Enforcement Division says the agency can't waste limited money on trying to prosecute or arrest Sanford on such a charge. Jennifer Timmons notes there are murderers and other violent offenders to pursue.