Behold, yet another thing Mark Sanford's "Hike in the Appalachian" should (but probably won't) cost him: his top secret-clearance. U.S. News:
As a chief of state and head of the South Carolina National Guard, Sanford has a top-secret security status that lets him in on classified information such as possible terrorist threats and emergency tips. But with that need to know come intelligence community rules of conduct, a key one being that relationships with foreigners must be revealed. The reason: Those in the know can leave themselves open to blackmail from rival intelligence services about a compromising dalliance.
And it's happened before (to a Democrat):
Homeland Security canceled former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's after he was arrested on corruption charges.
Sanford's security status, however, remains unclear. A spokesman didn't return calls, and Homeland Security, while confirming that it issues the clearances, would not comment on Sanford, also a captain in the Air Force Reserves.
Who knows. Maybe Sanford can get his friends at C Street to pull some strings on his behalf. Somehow, it's hard to imagine he won't figure out a way to pull off the old IOKIYAR trick.