Smoke, meet fire?
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has backed out of a promise to release personal financial records proving he did not use state money for trips to see his mistress.
A day after Sanford declared in an emotional Associated Press interview that his mistress is his soul mate, spokesman Joel Sawyer says the governor does not want to discuss personal matters in the media anymore.
Unless Sanford plans on resigning, this move doesn't make any sense. He can refuse to release them voluntarily, but sooner or later -- and probably sooner -- he'll be compelled by state lawmakers or law enforcement officials to release the records.
The only possibility of the records staying private -- at least while he remains in office -- is if he resigns.