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SC Gov. Wife Jenny Sanford: No Vow Of Fidelity In Marriage

by amyellensoden | February 3, 2010 at 12:36 pm

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Jenny Sanford will open up to Barbara Walters about the nature of her vowless marriage to South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. In the "20/20" interview that airs on Friday, Sanford talks about how her husband cheated on her with a woman he claimed was his soul mate, and how their marriage ceremony did not include a vow of fidelity because her husband did not want it to be a part of their wedding.

The Friday "20/20" interview features Jenny Sanford as one of Barbara Walters' 10 most fascinating people. The interview coincides with the release of Sanford's memoir entitled "Staying True" in which she talks about her experiences with love and a vowless marriage. She acknowledges that while the absence of a vow of fidelity in the marriage bothered her, she was too in love to see the signs of trouble to come with her husband.

South Carolina's first lady says her wedding was a "leap of faith" because Gov. Mark Sanford, who famously cheated on her with a woman he described as his soul mate, did not want to include a vow of fidelity in their marriage ceremony.

Jenny Sanford also tells ABC's Barbara Walters in an interview airing Friday on "20/20" that the final blow to the marriage was the publication of racy e-mails between Sanford and his Argentine mistress.

What finally changed Sanford's view of her marriage was the e-mails that were published last year by The State newspaper in Columbia. The e-mails were between Gov. Mark Sanford and the other woman, Maria Belen Chapur. One e-mail from Sanford contained detailed descriptions of Chapur's body. The e-mails between the two appeared online last year which prompted Gov. Sanford to hold a press conference to admit his affair.

Sanford's divorce with her husband has been filed and will be completed next month. She currently lives with her four sons at the family beach house on Sullivans Island. Jenny Sanford's interview with Barbara Walters on "20/20" airs Friday at 10:00pm ET.