COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Tuesday
that he saw his Argentine mistress more times than previously disclosed,
including what was to be a farewell meeting in New York chaperoned by a
spiritual adviser soon after his wife found out about the affair.

In a lengthy and emotional interview with The Associated Press in his
Statehouse office, the governor described five meetings with Maria Belen
Chapur over the past year, including two romantic, multi-night stays
with her in New York before they met there again intending to break up.

He said he met her two other times — their first meeting in 2001 at an
open-air dance spot in Uruguay and a coffee date in New York in 2004
during the Republican National Convention. He said neither time was
romantic.

It was the first disclosure of any liaisons with Chapur in the United
States and contradicted a public confession last week during which
Sanford admitted to a total of four encounters over their eight-year
relationship.

He previously announced he would reimburse the state for money spent
during a government trip to Brazil and Argentina in June 2008 when he
saw Chapur. He insists no public money was used for any other meetings
with her.

He saw Chapur again in mid-June of this year, visiting Argentina without
telling his staff he was going to be out of the country. He instead led
them to believe he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

By the time he returned to a puzzled public, staff and family, his
public image and emotional state had unraveled. He admitted the affair
at a rambling press conference.

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Damn. It's going to get harder for Sanford to remain in office and as a
constant reminder of GOP "holier than thou" bull****.