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Mark Sanford Faces Criminal Investigation

by Jordan Yerman | June 30, 2009 at 02:54 pm

161 views | 34 Recommendations | 4 comments

The fallout from South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's affair with Maria Belen Chapur continues, as Attorney General Henry McMaster orders an investigation into any state laws were broken during its course, aside from the $8000 in state funds, which Sanford promises to pay back..

As more light is shed on the story, we keep finding out that Mark Sanford saw Maria Belen Chapur more and more often, and has admitted more and more "inappropriate contact" with other women. However, Sanfords advisors urge him to ignore the cries of "Sanford must go" and remain in the capitol to finish his term.

Meanwhile, the New York Post claims to have footage of Maria Belen Chapur from when she worked as a journalist.

Attorney General Henry McMaster, who formerly had been hesitant to investigate the governor’s dalliances, said Tuesday that he has ordered a preliminary investigation into whether Sanford broke any state laws or misappropriated state funds during his secret meetings in New York and Buenos Aires with Maria Belen Chapur.

Under South Carolina state law, adultery itself is a crime, though that law has not been enforced in over 100 years.

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.

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Pythiian1

at 15:35 on June 30th, 2009

Evidently, Governor Sanford has also taken up on tweeting his apology today.

South Carolina AG has begun an investigation on Mr. Sanford's "hiking trip to Buenos Aires", which involved using State funds.

Attorney General Henry McMaster, who formerly had been hesitant to investigate the governor’s dalliances, said Tuesday that he has ordered a preliminary investigation into whether Sanford broke any state laws or misappropriated state funds during his secret meetings in New York and Buenos Aires with Maria Belen Chapur.

Upon his return from Argentina last week, Governor Sanford told reporters he’d seen her three times in the past year. Then, in a subsequent interview Tuesday with Associated Press, he said he’d actually seen her five times in the past year. He also admitted to “crossing the line” with several other women, but not to the point of starting affairs.

albertacowpoke

at 15:58 on June 30th, 2009

I wonder if us common folk would be allowed to pay back funds we misappropriated. I don't have a problem with him having an affair, but the cost should have been borne by him. If he used public funds to finance his affair, he should go to jail, period.