South Carolina Governor and a rising star in the Republican Party, has been coined as a potential contender for the 2012 Presidential nomination. However, he has been missing and unreachable for the last 5 days. It wasn't until last night Monday did the news of his wherabouts surfaced.
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- Gov. Mark Sanford will return to his office Wednesday following widespread confusion over his whereabouts, a spokesman for the South Carolina Republican said.
Joel Sawyer, Sanford's communications director, also said in a statement the governor called his chief of staff Tuesday morning and was "somewhat taken aback by all of the interest this trip has gotten."
The mystery surrounding his whereabouts was solved late Monday when a Sanford spokesman said he was hiking along the Appalachian Trail.
"I apologize for taking so long to send this update, and was waiting to see if [we had] a more definitive idea of what part of the trail he was on before we did so," Sawyer said in an e-mail to reporters.
Sanford's whereabouts were unaccounted for earlier this week when he stepped out of the public eye after a bruising session with the state Legislature.
His wife, Jenny, told CNN on Tuesday afternoon that she still had not heard from her husband.
"I am being a mom today. I have not heard from my husband. I am taking care of my children," she said outside the couple's beach home on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina.
In Monday night's e-mail to reporters, Sawyer said he wanted "to emphasize that this isn't something that either staff or Mrs. Sanford is concerned about."
"As we said earlier today, it isn't unusual for the governor to be out of pocket for several days after the legislative session," Sawyer wrote. "We knew that he would be difficult to reach, and that he would be checking in infrequently. Given the media attention this has generated, we'll obviously update you once we have some more specifics to pass along."
Earlier, Sawyer said, "Before leaving last week, he let staff know his whereabouts and that he'd be difficult to reach. Should any emergencies arise between the times in which he checks in, our staff would obviously be in contact with other state officials as the situation warrants before making any decisions."
However, South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said Tuesday that Sanford's office had inaccurately told him it was in touch with the governor at a time when it was unsure of his whereabouts. Bauer, who learned of Sanford's absence on Sunday, said he still had not heard from the governor, and is getting his updates on the situation from media reports.
He also said that Sanford's political views, coupled with his decision to cut off communication for several days, had put the governor at serious risk. Link
When a public official disappears - people will be worried. Was there foul play? Kidnapped? Accident??
Fortunately, none of that occurred - Governor Mark Sanford went hiking along the Appalachian Trail and cutoff all communications from his office and his own family! No one knew his wherabouts - NO ONE!
This is not one of those high-profile scandals (like John Ensign's sordid affair) - but Sanford is a Family man with a wife and 4 children.
A member of the moral majority decided to separate and severe communications from his office - and his own family - to go hiking and to "clear his head".
Father's Day for him - came and gone!
This 'temporary' abandonment has more questions to his character - why did he do it?
Stress at work? Family problems??? We all suffer from these and it is understandable that one would want to "get away" and escape from it all to revitalize.
But everyone is baffled at why he displayed such behavior ??!
How many Christian Conservative Father's do we know disappears from his family and cut off any and all forms of communication to his family?But local media and lawmakers can't stop scratching their heads at why Sanford would abandon the capital without maintaining phone contact and notifying key people of his whereabouts -- like the lieutenant governor, who did not know where Sanford was and said he'd been rebuffed by the governor's staff when he tried to find out.
"This is bizarre thought process and bizarre actions. It just shouldn't happen," said state Sen. Jake Knotts, a fellow Republican who is also a known Sanford critic. "What would the world think if the president did that?"
Knotts told FOXNews.com he has no problem with Sanford taking some time off but that he should be reachable -- or submit written notice ahead of time transferring authority to the lieutenant governor in his absence. He said the governor was pulling a "shenanigan."
And not tell the family where he will be during his hiatus.
Well, he will be at work Wednesday - maybe he will explain himself - and maybe not!
But if he is going to run for President in 2012 - surely this incident and his behavior will be asked.
Latest Update!
As of Wednesday 6/24/09 - we now know where Governor "Don't Cry For Me" Sanford have been in the 5 days he was missing.
And its is now high-profile!
John Ensign should be breathing a sigh of relief!
