Mark Sanford's Maria Shapur Scandal

Jenny Sanford, the wife of embattled South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, told her husband "to leave two weeks ago," according to reports. When she found out about his infidelity with Maria Belen Shapur, Jenny "worked immediately to first seek reconciliation through forgiveness." At first. Eventually, "to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong, I asked my husband to leave." Jenny says she asked Mark Sanford not to contact the family during their separation. She says she had no idea where he was the past week. One can assume it didn't help when ... Read Full Story

COLUMBIA, S.C. (CAP) - In an exclusive interview with CAP News, embattled So. Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has acknowledged that he never intended to go to Argentina but ended up there because he had no map. Sanford said his mistress actually lives in Alabama and he simply confused the two locations. "This admission by Gov. Sanford shows us just how truly poor Americans are at geography," said CAP News political analyst Fuad Reveiz. "And not only that, but it also shows us that Miss South Carolina Teen USA Caitlin Upton was actually right all along." Caitlin Upton garnered quite a bit of notoriety back ... Read Full Story

(Getty Images) South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford revealed at a press conference Wednesday an affair that has nearly ended his marriage and likely ruined future political aspirations. To add insult to injury, South Carolina newspaper The State has published emails sent by the governor to his Argentinian mistress, Maria Belen Shapur , a mother of 2 who lives in Buenos Aires. The McClatchy newspaper hasn't said how it originally obtained the messages, but a story published Wednesday reveals that a correspondent in Buenos Aires had been working with the paper to verify the authenticity of the emails. From The State : McClatchy special correspondent ... Read Full Story

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford pauses during a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee on Capitol Hill October 29, 2008 in Washington, DC. The hearing was focused on economic recovery and job creation through investment. (Getty Images) more pics » It's pretty rare for a politician to want to step out of the spotlight, much less completely drop off the grid, but that's exactly what Mark Sanford has done for the past five days. He dissappeared on Thursday evening, and has been impossible to contact since then. The Republican South Carolina governor's office is now saying that Sanford has been hiking since ... Read Full Story

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford speaks during a press conference at the State Capitol June 24, 2009 in Columbia, South Carolina. Sanford admitted to having an extramarital affair after returning from a secret trip to visit a woman in Argentina and said that he would resign as head of the Republican Governors Association. (Getty Images) more pics » In a rambling, apologetic statement given to the press Wednesday afternoon, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted that the purpose of his five-day disappearance was to wrap up an affair he'd been having with Maria Belen Shapur , a woman from Argentina. Sanford apologized to his ... Read Full Story