From The (Columbia, SC) State:
Gov. Mark Sanford arrived in the Hartsville-Jackson International Airport Wednesday morning, having wrapped up a seven-day visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina, he said. Sanford said he had not been hiking along the Appalachian Trail, as his staff said in a Tuesday statement to the media. Sanford's whereabouts had been unknown since Thursday, and the mystery surrounding his absence fueled speculation about where he had been and who's in charge in his absence. His emergence Wednesday ended the mystery. Sanford, in an exclusive interview with The State Media Company, said he decided at the last minute to go to the South American country to recharge after a difficult legislative session in which he battled with lawmakers over how to spend federal stimulus money. Sanford said he had considered hiking on the Appalachian Trail, an activity he said he has enjoyed since he was a high school student. "But I said 'no' I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford said "... It's a great city."
OK, I get needing some R&R. I even understand wanting to go to Buenos Aires: I hear it's a great city and has a ton of American ex-pats living there. But the governor of a state cannot just go incommunicado, have a staff sending out BS reports of whereabouts, and not let anyone know about it. Moreover, governors are potential targets for hostile entities abroad. Traveling without security in such an instance is an unnecessary risk.
More from The State:
Sanford said he left Thursday night from the Columbia Metropolitan airport. Media reports said a SLED SUV the governor drove that night was spotted in the airport's parking lot. Sanford said he decided not to return via the Columbia airport to avoid the media. The State Media Company was the only media who greeted Sanford Wednesday morning. "I don't know how this thing got blown out of proportion," Sanford said. Sanford said he has taken adventure trips for years to unwind.
Emphasis added. Sanford's bemusement reminds me of when Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-NY) explained his inaction on the Mark Foley scandal by saying he took the matter to his "supervisor," in that case, Denny Hastert. Jon Stewart mockingly remarked, "Tom Reynolds: United States Congressman, or Assistant Manager at Applebees?"
This episode is unbecoming of a public leader.
Update: From the comments, Dotster raises the following important questions, ones which are sure to be asked soon:
Just unbelievable. And what's with the double airport car parkings? One in Atlanta, one in Columbia with hiking gear props inside. Wonder whose boat he was on, or who accompanied him on his Buenos Aires coastal cruise? Maybe that's the real embarrassing part. And why was his staff swearing, as late as last night, that he was on the Appalachian Trail?
Update 2: Also from the comments, dehrha02 asks another important question...
Who paid for this? The taxpayers?
...while BDA in VA gives the current weather for Buenos Aires, showing that this was an extremely odd time to vacation there.
Update 3: Per WaPo, "South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will hold a press conference at 2:00 p.m. today from his office in the statehouse in Columbia."