E-mails detail intimate affair
by John O'Connor
As originally posted: The State
June 25, 2009
E-mails obtained by The State newspaper in December detailed an affair between Gov. Mark Sanford and Maria, a woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
However, attempts to verify the e-mails — from an anonymous source — were fruitless, until Wednesday. Then, acting on another anonymous tip that Sanford would be on a plane returning from Argentina, the paper sent a reporter to Atlanta.
When Sanford got off a plane from Buenos Aires, he stopped an interview with The State when asked if he had been with anyone in Argentina.
The State then contacted Sanford’s office and a former aide, explicitly saying it had e-mails between the governor’s personal e-mail address and an Argentine woman and thought them to be genuine.
Sanford’s office subsequently scheduled a news conference, at which time the governor confessed to an affair.
Late Wednesday, the governor’s office said it would not dispute the authenticity of the e-mails.
The e-mails, published in today’s newspaper and at thestate.com, sound like Sanford.
There is talk of Coosaw, his Beaufort plantation, and his love of digging holes on the property. The e-mails refer to his known public schedule — a governor’s meeting and an audition for the Republican vice presidential nomination with John McCain.
One e-mail from Sanford’s personal address also referred to the Bible, a Sanford favorite. In response, his Argentine lover recommended an economics book, another Sanford favorite.
The e-mails also match much of what Sanford said at his Wednesday news conference: That his sexual relationship with the Argentine woman grew from a much-longer friendship, that it started about a year ago and that the woman has two sons.
From Sanford’s e-mail address to the woman: “I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificently gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curves of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of night’s light — but hey, that would be going into the sexual details ...”
The State has removed the woman’s full name and other personal details, including her address, e-mail address and children’s names.
A McClatchy special correspondent, Angeles Mase, Wednesday visited the 14-story apartment building in Buenos Aires where, according to the e-mails that included her address, the woman lives. . The woman at the address answered to the name in the e-mails and, at first, agreed to speak to a visitor, but she declined after the visitor identified herself as a reporter.
The doorman at the building, shown a photograph of Sanford, said he did not recognize him. According to the doorman, the woman has two sons, one a teenager of driving age and the other younger. The e-mails refer to the woman’s two sons.
by John O'Connor
As originally posted: The State
June 25, 2009
E-mails obtained by The State newspaper in December detailed an affair between Gov. Mark Sanford and Maria, a woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
However, attempts to verify the e-mails — from an anonymous source — were fruitless, until Wednesday. Then, acting on another anonymous tip that Sanford would be on a plane returning from Argentina, the paper sent a reporter to Atlanta.
When Sanford got off a plane from Buenos Aires, he stopped an interview with The State when asked if he had been with anyone in Argentina.
The State then contacted Sanford’s office and a former aide, explicitly saying it had e-mails between the governor’s personal e-mail address and an Argentine woman and thought them to be genuine.
Sanford’s office subsequently scheduled a news conference, at which time the governor confessed to an affair.
Late Wednesday, the governor’s office said it would not dispute the authenticity of the e-mails.
The e-mails, published in today’s newspaper and at thestate.com, sound like Sanford.
There is talk of Coosaw, his Beaufort plantation, and his love of digging holes on the property. The e-mails refer to his known public schedule — a governor’s meeting and an audition for the Republican vice presidential nomination with John McCain.
One e-mail from Sanford’s personal address also referred to the Bible, a Sanford favorite. In response, his Argentine lover recommended an economics book, another Sanford favorite.
The e-mails also match much of what Sanford said at his Wednesday news conference: That his sexual relationship with the Argentine woman grew from a much-longer friendship, that it started about a year ago and that the woman has two sons.
From Sanford’s e-mail address to the woman: “I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificently gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curves of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of night’s light — but hey, that would be going into the sexual details ...”
The State has removed the woman’s full name and other personal details, including her address, e-mail address and children’s names.
A McClatchy special correspondent, Angeles Mase, Wednesday visited the 14-story apartment building in Buenos Aires where, according to the e-mails that included her address, the woman lives. . The woman at the address answered to the name in the e-mails and, at first, agreed to speak to a visitor, but she declined after the visitor identified herself as a reporter.
The doorman at the building, shown a photograph of Sanford, said he did not recognize him. According to the doorman, the woman has two sons, one a teenager of driving age and the other younger. The e-mails refer to the woman’s two sons.
9 comments:
This is what you've all sunk to? Publishing private emails? S-A-D.
It's part of the story. What is the media supposed to do report on selective aspects only? How would you suggest we decide what to publish and what not to publish? Give us your guidelines please?
"How would you suggest we decide what to publish and what not to publish? Give us your guidelines please?"
My suggestions or guidelines would be these - What say we draw the line at private correspondence?? Otherwise, we're just one step away from posting upskirt photos. It is disgusting that it is considered acceptable to publish these love letters, and if I were this governor, I would suggest he consider suing The State for having illegally obtained his emails. I don't blame this blog so much as I blame The State, but I think you both in very different ways, play a role in coarsening jouranlism.
How's your blog? Hope you’re keeping well and The Landlady isn’t wearing you down.
Au Contraire. South Carolina newspaper The State obtained the e-mail last December at which time they tried unsuccessfully to authenicate them. However, on Wednesday the Governor's Office did not deny their existence.
Before they were published the woman's full name was removed plus other details such as her street address, e-mail adderss and her childrens' names.
As for suing the newspaper - Good Luck! It has not yet revealed how it obtained copies of the email - anonymous brown envelope?
As for coarsening journalism, this hardly qualifies. Besides, where is it written reporters must be soft, gentle and chocolate coat everything? The handling of this story does not constitute upskirt journalism.
In the end, surely the Governor must be aware he's a public figure. As such, he should learn to "govern" himself accordingly.
An aspect of the story many are overlooking in a rush to read the email is while away for the 6 days or so, very few knew of the Governor's whereabouts even his senior staff. The reason given for public consumption was he had gone on a hiking trip.
What if during his absence a major emergency occurred such as a serious tornado? Besides, who paid for his travel expenses to Agrentina - his Office?
Yes: To the extent that the affair affected his ability to carry out his office it is a legit story.
The emails have nothing to do with this. They are not legit, and anyone who wants to see these are no better than peeping Toms.
At last! A comment exchange on this blog which has nothing to do with the ramblings of the Landlady or Landlord. Blessed day!
Well then I'm a peeping Tom. Great reading those email as I bake a chocolate cake - sounds like he really liked her tan lines.
Where's that $16.94 you owe me Landlord?
The Landlady
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