SC Governor Mark Sanford Affair Revealed After Argentina Trip

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Missing governor Mark Sanford has come back home to South Carolina, but his wife Jenny Sanford doesn't feel very relieved. In a bizarre twist, the South Carolina governor told reporters that he took a short trip to Argentina without telling his wife or staff. He also admitted that he had been cheating on his wife with Maria Belen Shapur, a "dear friend from Argentina."

Prior to his return, Sanford had not communicated with his family, staff, and security detail for days. Sanford's office, however, told reporters that he was hiking along the Appalachian Trail.

Today, it was revealed that Sanford actually took a trip to Argentina, more than a few miles away from the Appalachian Trail. Sanford eventually told the press that he decided to go to Argentina for a relaxing vacation after a tough legislative session.

Sanford has finally come clean, saying that he did not travel to Argentina alone and that he had been faithful to his wife.

Sanford says that he is stepping down as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

For more background to this bizarre story, Talking Points Memo has an excellent Mark Sanford-Argentina scandal timeline.