Sanford Says He Met With Mistress While on State Business in Argentina

Governor Mark Sanford says he met with his mistress while on a business trip to Argentina.

"As noted by the Department of Commerce, I attended a trade mission with the Department of Commerce last June. As the agenda notes, the mission was spent meeting with government and private business officials in both Brazil and Argentina. This trip was handled very professionally by the Department of Commerce, and I'm proud of their work there. However, 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. 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," Gov. Sanford said.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce released the following statement regarding the Agency’s mission to Brazil and Argentina on June 21-28, 2008.

They say all private participants pay for their own travel expenses to participate in these missions.

The Department of Commerce says A number of the participants from the Brazil trade and investment mission, at the invitation and suggestion of Secretary Taylor and at their own personal expense, went to Cordoba, Argentina following the Brazil mission to go bird hunting.

They say the hunting trip was paid for personally by individuals that chose to participate.

“The Governor was part of the group in Cordoba for a day and half of hunting and went on to Buenos Aires for official state meetings. The trade delegation did not accompany the Governor to the meetings in Argentina. The Governor was accompanied by a project manager from the Department of Commerce, which is standard practice for meetings with public officials and prospective companies,” said Kara Borie, spokesperson for the Department of Commerce.

The Department of Commerce says only taxpayer funds expended for any of the Argentina portion of the trip were for Governor Sanford and Commerce Project Manager Ford Graham.

Airfare* $8,687 (Governor Sanford)

Airfare $1,910 (Commerce project manager)

Lodging $453

Meals $142

Other travel ** $130

Project Meals $488

*Airfare includes travel from Columbia to Atlanta to Sao Paulo, Brazil to Cordoba, Argentina to Buenos Ares, Argentina to Atlanta to Columbia, S.C.

** Includes transportation, phones, portage and interest service.

Travel Expense Report
Meeting Agenda