Sanford's Argentina trip mixed biz, love

CHARLESTON, S.C., July 4 (UPI) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford mixed business and pleasure during a three-day Argentina trip last year that included a visit to his mistress, records show.

Records obtained by The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper show Sanford left behind an official state trade delegation hunting birds in Cordoba, Argentina, to go to Buenos Aires, a trip he has acknowledged was to see his lover, Maria Belen Chapur.

Sanford has reimbursed taxpayers about $3,300 for the trip, the newspaper said.

Kara Borie, a South Carolina Commerce Department spokeswoman, said the department set up the 2008 Argentine meetings at the governor's request, even though the U.S. Department of Commerce had not conducted a trade mission in the country between 2002 and 2008.

Borie said Sanford did not steer the trip toward Buenos Aires.

"In this case, since the governor was already going to be in Argentina for the bird hunt, Commerce was asked to add trade-related meetings in Argentina to the agenda as well," Joel Sawyer, the governor's spokesman, told The State.

Democrats and Republicans in South Carolina have called on Sanford, a Republican, to resign. However, two allies Friday told The State Sanford should remain in office.

State Sen. Tom Beaufort, Sanford's former chief of staff, said he changed his mind after talking to Sanford and his wife, who convinced him they could try to repair their marriage while Sanford remains in office.

"I am not going to second-guess them on that personal matter," Beaufort said.

State Sen. Greg Ryberg said it is "time to move forward" now that an investigation shows no misuse of state funds.