General

Governor’s affair goes public

“My heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips”

E-mails obtained by The State show correspondence between South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who admitted on Wednesday to an affair, and a woman in Buenos Aires. The newspaper reports that it obtained the e-mails between Sanford and “Maria” in December, but was only able to authenticate them on Wednesday. The newspaper also announced that it had removed the woman’s full name, as well as the names of her children. The correspondence shines light on a long-hidden, but intimate, relationship. An email from Sanford dated July 4, 2008 is addressed “Dearest” and signed “Hugs and much love.” In it, Sanford proclaims, “You are glorious and I hope you know that.” But a later email reveals the governor’s anxiety about the future: “Lastly I also suspect I feel a little vulnerable because this is ground I have never certainly never covered before – so if you have pearls of wisdom on how we figure all this out please let me know. In the meantime please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul.”

The State

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