Sanford apologizes to Cabinet members

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 26 (UPI) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford apologized to members of his Cabinet Friday afternoon for disrupting state operations with his trip to Argentina.

The governor singled out two Cabinet members, Reggie Lloyd, the head of law enforcement, and Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor, The New York Times reported. Lloyd spent much of last weekend trying to locate the governor, who had said he would be hiking the Appalachian Trail, while the Commerce Department arranged a trip to Argentina for Sanford last year that he used to visit the woman with whom he has admitted having an affair.

"I owe it to you Reggie, for putting you in a bad place," the governor said. "I owe it to you very specifically Joe, and to the team at commerce, for that way that I put you all in a bad spot."

The governor has said he will reimburse the state for the trip.

Sanford's second term as governor ends in January 2011, and he cannot seek a third. He has said nothing about resigning, but even some Republican leaders in South Carolina are dubious about his serving out his term, the report said

"I think he's gone, it's over," State Senate Majority Leader Harvey S. Peeler Jr. told the Times. "Leaving aside his personal life, when you use taxpayer dollars, that's what Republicans are all about -- spending tax dollars wisely. This was not spending tax dollars wisely."