SULLIVANS ISLAND, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford thought about resigning after admitting to an extramarital affair, he said Sunday in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.
But the Republican said he spoke with close spiritual and political associates who advised him to fight to restore the public’s — and his family’s — trust in him.
“Resigning would be the easiest thing to do,” he said.
Sanford, who hadn’t spoken publicly since Friday, talked to AP outside his coastal home on Sullivans Island. He talked about “walking into the legislative term with a humble spirit.”
“I have to go through that voyage over the next 18 months,” he said, referring to the number of months left in his second term. He is barred by state law from seeking a third and, at one time, had been rumored as a presidential contender in 2012.
Now, Sanford said he wants to repair the public’s trust in him and continue to serve the people of South Carolina. He admitted last week to a yearlong affair with a woman in Argentina. As for his wife, Sanford said they are working on their relationship.
“If there wasn’t healing going on, I wouldn’t be here,” he said, pointing to his beach house, where he had dinner with his family Saturday night.
Later Sunday, 41-year-old Argentinian Maria Belen Chapur said in a statement to news network C5n of Buenos Aires that she was having a relationship with Sanford.
She said e-mails with Sanford that were widely published by U.S. media and elsewhere were obtained by someone who hacked her account.
