Author Topic: Sanford Pays Record Ethics Fine (Read 884 times)

Dos Equis · « **on:** April 02, 2010, 11:51:45 AM »

He should resign and move to South America. What an embarrassment.

Sanford Pays Record Ethics Fine
Friday, 02 Apr 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has paid the largest ethics fine in state history in the wake of an investigation launched after he confessed an affair with an Argentine woman, the State Ethics Commission's director said Thursday.

Director Herb Hayden said Mr. Sanford's lawyers dropped off a check for $74,000 in fines and $36,498 to cover the investigation and other commission costs on Wednesday.

"It's the largest single fine that has ever been levied against anyone by the commission," Mr. Hayden said.

The fine came in the wake of investigations by the Associated Press after Mr. Sanford disappeared for five days last June and returned to make a tearful confession of an affair with Maria Belen Chapur, the Argentine woman he said he'd had an affair with for a year and described as his soul mate.

The AP investigations showed Mr. Sanford traveled on commercial airlines on high-priced seats despite the state's low-cost travel rules and used state planes for personal and political trips. The State newspaper in Columbia questioned campaign reimbursements to Mr. Sanford.

Attorney General Henry McMaster requested an investigation. While the Ethics Commission provided the results of that investigation to him in November, Mr. McMaster, who is running for governor, has not decided whether to pursue charges against Mr. Sanford.

Two weeks ago, Mr. Sanford entered a no-contest plea to 37 charges from the Ethics Commission investigation. Mr. Sanford said it was time to put the issue behind him.

The governor said in a statement he thinks he would have been vindicated if the commission had heard the case, but didn't want to continue what he called an endless media circus.

Mr. Sanford also agreed to reimburse the state Commerce Department $18,000 for first- and business-class airfare; the state Aeronautics Division $7,792 for personal use of state-owned aircraft and give his campaign $2,941 to cover personal use of campaign funds, including a hunting trip to Ireland and his monthly cable television bills.

Mr. Hayden said Mr. Sanford must show those payments have been made within the next couple of weeks.

http://newsmax.com/Politics/Sanford-Record-Ethics-Fine/2010/04/02/id/354570

MRDUMPLING · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2010, 11:53:25 AM »

Trust me...the dude has the money. It isn't just his wife's either.

Granted, her house on Sullivan's Island is the real deal...just a nice, quaint house on the ocean here in the south.

Benny B · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2010, 11:56:03 AM »

major dirtbag

240 is Back · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2010, 12:10:39 PM »

another lib media witch hunt.

As far as I see it, he didn't do anything wrong.

Except neglect his duties as governor to use state mistress to bang some hottie in another hemisphere. And who hasn't done that from time to time? I mean really, glass houses.

GigantorX · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2010, 01:02:13 PM »

Quote from: 240 is Back on April 02, 2010, 12:10:39 PM

another lib media witch hunt.

As far as I see it, he didn't do anything wrong.

Except neglect his duties as governor to use state mistress to bang some hottie in another hemisphere. And who hasn't done that from time to time? I mean really, glass houses.

240 is Back · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2010, 01:07:00 PM »

honestly, i wish we lived in a world where sex scandals didn't matter.

sometimes the best leaders like to get their junk wet, so what?

Dos Equis · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2010, 01:45:04 PM »

Who cares if a man cheats on his wife while holding public office, impregnates his mistress while his wife is dying of cancer, fires employees who threaten to blow the whistle, etc.

We should expect much more from our elected officials.

240 is Back · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2010, 02:05:01 PM »

why?

I mean, when you buy a cheeseburger, do you care if the chef is a family man or likes to live it up? No, you go for the tastiest cheeseburger for the best price.

It should be like that with leadership. Right now, would you rather have the faithful Obama in office, or the cheater Clinton? If you were offered two leaders, one with better governing capability who enjoyed a mistress on the weekends - would you really choose the faithful guy?

Our nation would have more great options for leadership if we just ignored cheaters. yes, some religious tightwads who get a bulge in their panties every time they see a female in a Victoria Secret catalog will shout about "our moral fiber!", but relly, who cares?

Dos Equis · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2010, 02:14:41 PM »

Comparing an elected official paid by my tax dollars to a guy flipping hamburgers?

Absurd.

Anyone who cares about the integrity of public officials should expect taxpayer funded leaders to be honest in public and private. I do not believe in private vs. public integrity. Either you have it or you don't. You can't turn it on and off. If a "leader" is dishonest at home I will not trust him to be honest in public office.

240 is Back · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2010, 03:34:59 PM »

If a "leader" is dishonest at home I will not trust him to be honest in public office.

What if he's honest? what if he says "I enjoy multiple sex partners!"

Dos Equis · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2010, 04:15:12 PM »

Another ridiculous hypothetical. I'm unaware of any married public official making that kind of statement. I doubt his wife would approve. This is silly.

240 is Back · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2010, 04:23:30 PM »

'Another ridiculous hypothetical. I'm unaware of any married public official making that kind of statement. I doubt his wife would approve. This is silly. '

I said I wish we lived in a world where leaders could be judged on what they can do for their constituents, and not their bedroom preferences. WHAT IF there was an open marriage candidate? Or a single guy that said "I don't want to get married, but I do enjoy sex with a dozen different women every year!"?

I think some voters would choose the guy claiming to have "morals" who would do a shittier job, over a guy with an open sexual arrangement who would do a better job.

If I asked you right now - would you vote for Newt over Obama in 2012 in a hypothetical matchup - even though Newt was cheating on (sick?) wife while he was activaely attacking clinton for the Lewinski mess...
I think 90% of the people here would vote Newt.

So maybe we've already decided this. many people here voted Mccain - an admitted cheater with the current wife while still married to the first wife who was in an accident - over obama, a model husband. So I guess marriage morals don't matter after all.

Dos Equis · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2010, 04:33:05 PM »

Character matters to most people. But as your comments show, not everyone cares about integrity. I'm sure there are a number of voters who agree with you. I happen to fall in the camp that thinks honesty and fidelity matter.

240 is Back · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2010, 11:39:06 PM »

"Character matters to most people. But as your comments show, not everyone cares about integrity. I'm sure there are a number of voters who agree with you. I happen to fall in the camp that thinks honesty and fidelity matter. ''

No, you really don't - because you voted Mccain in 2008. He was an admitted cheater - his injured wife was at home and he ADMITTED he lied to wife #2 about being single. he hooked up, did all that, while married.

You voted for an adulterer in 2008. it's cool. I know most of us would pick newt (or even sanford!) over Obama in 2012.

Dos Equis · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2010, 12:36:19 AM »

What a dumb argument.

240 is Back · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2010, 12:38:32 AM »

maybe. but in 08, you clearly chose the candidate who matched your political views - over a candidate with far more integrity when it comes to relationships.

You made the right move, definitely. I hope all voters do this, and don't let a good candidate (who can fix things) be ignored because they cheated, whatever.

Dos Equis · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2010, 12:45:09 AM »

lol. I want to just leave it alone, because it's so stupid, but I what the heck. I'm bored.

McCain cheated on his first wife in 1979, before he became a senator. He has been married to his current wife for 30 years. lol.

lol . . . .

240 is Back · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2010, 12:55:03 AM »

What is the amount of years that an adulterer is no longer of suspect moral character?

We know sanford did it maybe 30 weeks ago, and he's still on the shit list.
Mccain did it 30 years ago, and he's golden for voting.

Newt, 12+ years ago, and you're kind of on the fence about him.

So how many years until a cheater becomes a moral beacon once again?

Dos Equis · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2010, 01:00:46 AM »

still laughing . . .

MRDUMPLING · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2010, 06:29:11 PM »

He should be impeached for just leaving the country the way he did.

He used campaign money to fund some of his trips to see his mistres...he has to pay that money back. He embarrassed a state that quite frankly, is tired of being embarrassed. Even though this is my home I don't like the stereotype of the south, and do everything I can to break it.

Anyways, it's not just about the scandal 240. If you lived here you would understand.

Dos Equis · « **Reply #20 on:** April 03, 2010, 07:28:38 PM »

Quote from: MRDUMPLING on April 03, 2010, 06:29:11 PM

He should be impeached for just leaving the country the way he did.

He used campaign money to fund some of his trips to see his mistres...he has to pay that money back. He embarrassed a state that quite frankly, is tired of being embarrassed. Even though this is my home I don't like the stereotype of the south, and do everything I can to break it.

Anyways, it's not just about the scandal 240. If you lived here you would understand.

Agree.