SC Governor's Argentina Trip Raises Questions(More Shoes to Drop)

Source: AP

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The details of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's secretive trips to visit his lover in South America aren't just headline fodder or political kryptonite.

They're also being scrutinized by law enforcement officials at the request of some lawmakers and watchdog groups who fear taxpayer money could have been misused on his affair. So far, no criminal investigation has been opened.

On Thursday, Sanford agreed to reimburse the state for part of a more-than $8,000 tab that enabled him to see his mistress on an official economic development trip to Argentina's capital city. At a Cabinet meeting Friday, he told the head of the state Commerce Department he was sorry about the trip.

The department had initially included only Brazil on the official itinerary but added meetings in Buenos Aires at the governor's behest, said Kara Borie, a spokeswoman for the state Commerce Department.

Sanford did conduct business in Buenos Aires, although Borie said there were no specific economic development projects that have come from them.

"I will tell you that visits of this nature are not that uncommon," she said, noting the results aren't always immediately evident.

But the furor over Sanford's trip is mushrooming. Critics called on the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate state spending on the trip and whether Sanford broke laws by leaving on his latest visit to Argentina last Thursday without turning control over to the lieutenant governor. His staff told people who asked that he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

"We also have to worry about whether this is the tip of the iceberg. We don't know what else is out there. We don't know what's going to come out tomorrow. We don't know what's going to come out next," said state Sen. Jake Knotts R-West Columbia.

The law enforcement agency said it was reviewing Knotts' request, but hadn't opened a criminal investigation involving Sanford as of Friday.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_on_re_us/us_sc_governor

I pick next Wednesday as the day he steps down,

From a strictly political vantagepoint, Sanford has been his own worst enemy. First, he becomes a lovesick teenager that ruins his marriage and he begins to live a lie...trying to live up to his public image while living a secret life. He's still in denial...no where near accepting what he's done or responsibility for his recklessness. If anything, the longer he remains in office and a public figure, the more damage he'll do to himself and his corrupt party.

And...what we know of this affair is what he's been willing to admit to so far...a confession forced but not complete. Had Gina Smith not caught him getting off the plane from Buenos Aires, we'd still be hearing about his hiking weekend. His "damage control" just makes one wonder how much more he's hiding...and surely it is starting to come out.

The facts are becoming clear that he was negligent of his office...abandoning it...and also using public funds for his tryst. I'm expecting to hear that his Argentine bombshell came to visit him...it truly does take two to tango. The longer Sanford tries to "tough" it out, the more damaging this whole sorrid affair will be on him, his family and his party.

The longer he tries to hang on, the worst the repukes look. I hope it lasts another few weeks. Other goppers are starting to call for his resignation. Infighting on their side is a delight.

Have you ever seen a repuke accept responsibility? Just another prime example of their hypocrisy.

this was his cover story. That was the car he would come back home in if he wasn't caught in Atlanta coming off the flight from B.A.

and it's where I'd like to see the most coverage. The titillating aspects of the story get the lion's share of attention, however, and that's not doing us any favors.

Misappropriation of public funds. THAT's the phrase I want to hear whenever Sanford's name is mentioned! It points out the hypocrisy of a conservative who sanctimoniously shuns federal money while feeding at the public trough - illegally - at the same time.

I would think that they would want to investigate the situation to make sure Maria is not an agent for her government, or another government. And I agree with other posters, the longer this is drawn out, the worse it looks for the GOP. I hope Sanford doesn't resign and the Republicans in SC have to impeach him to get him out.

doesn't turn out to be a Argentinian Valarie Plame. I understand that she was a political science major.

x(
rocktivity