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Sanford to Wife: Let Me Have This Affair

SC's first lady told him 'in no uncertain terms' to stop seeing her

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 26, 2009 8:42 PM CDT

(Newser) – Gov. Mark Sanford not only had an affair, he asked his wife to condone it, she says. In an interview that ended in tears, South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford told the AP that he had asked permission to visit his mistress after Jenny discovered the affair. "I said absolutely not. It's one thing to forgive adultery; it's another thing to condone it," she said. "He was told in no uncertain terms not to see her."

When the governor disappeared last week, Jenny "was hoping he was doing some real soul searching somewhere and devastated to find out it was Argentina." He had sworn to end the affair. "I believe he has," said the first lady, who plans to focus on their four sons. But "we'll just see what kind of spirit of reconciliation he has himself." Separated for 2 weeks now, the couple have gone to counseling. "It's hard to find out your husband is not who you thought he was."

This June 13, 2006, file photo shows South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford smiling as he is joined by his wife, Jenny, after he won the Republican gubernatorial nomination , in Columbia, SC.
This June 13, 2006, file photo shows South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford smiling as he is joined by his wife, Jenny, after he won the Republican gubernatorial nomination , in Columbia, SC.   (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain,File)
Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, speaks about her husband's recent affair admission at the family beach house in Sullivans Island,  S.C., on Friday, June 26, 2009.
Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, speaks about her husband's recent affair admission at the family beach house in Sullivans Island, S.C., on Friday, June 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, speaks about her husband's recent affair admission at the family beach house in Sullivans Island,  S.C., on Friday, June 26, 2009.
Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, speaks about her husband's recent affair admission at the family beach house in Sullivans Island, S.C., on Friday, June 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, speaks about her husband's recent affair admission at the family beach house in Sullivans Island,  S.C., on Friday, June 26, 2009.
Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, speaks about her husband's recent affair admission at the family beach house in Sullivans Island, S.C., on Friday, June 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, speaks about her husband's recent affair admission at the family beach house in Sullivans Island,  S.C., on Friday, June 26, 2009.
Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, speaks about her husband's recent affair admission at the family beach house in Sullivans Island, S.C., on Friday, June 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
wwwonderer
Jun 29, 2009 10:33 AM CDT
Well I think this happens all the time, and it's ok in my book. What 2 people in a relationship AGREE upon is their business. After all aren't there plenty of happy couples that swing. If you have discussed this with your spouse then who are you hurting? It is DECEPTION that ruins society. Conversely, we don't know who Mrs. Sanford might have been seeing. It appears as though she was a loving wife, but what do we know. With that being said,the real killer of this is your GOP family values. The hypocrisy in the GOP circles is too much. How can anyone still follow them without skepticism? Then again I don't see how anyone can follow religion blindly with questions odd claims either, but that's me.
Bubblebee
Jun 27, 2009 11:02 AM CDT
Being Christian is not anything like being in a cult... That was the most silly thing I have ever read. A cult is where you do exactly what the leader wants you to do. Being a Christian you have free will and are shown the right path to lead your life. Sanford just gave in to his dark side and wanted to contiue down that path. Therefore there is no way he can claim he is a Christian any longer. People like this give religion a bad rep, when they are truely not a good example of what is really believed by so many others.
ghhugh
Jun 27, 2009 10:53 AM CDT
He really is a Whack job. He should be removed from Office and deported to Cuba or better yet Haiti

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