After yesterday's tragedy, we can all use a bit of comic relief today. Thankfully, Mr. Appalachian Trail has decided to provide some: Unfortunately, Mr. Appalachian Trail has decided to make things more disturbing:
Mark Sanford Trespassed At Jenny Sanford's Home: Lawyer
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford must appear in court two days after running for a vacant congressional seat to answer a complaint that he trespassed at his ex-wife's home, according to court documents acquired by The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The complaint says Jenny Sanford confronted Sanford leaving her Sullivans Island home on Feb. 3 by a rear door, using his cell phone for a flashlight. Her attorney filed the complaint the next day and Jenny Sanford confirmed Tuesday the documents are authentic.
The couple's 2010 divorce settlement says neither may enter the other's home without permission. Mark Sanford lives about a 20-minute drive away in downtown Charleston.
I'm not sure why, but for some reason the phrase "using his cell phone for a flashlight" stands out to me as the most surreal part of the story.
I mean, hell, I use my phone as a flashlight when I need to get to our bathroom in the middle of the night without waking up my wife or tripping over our German Shepherd.
It just seems so weird to picture the former Governor of South Carolina, who was once touted as being Presidential Candidate material, stumbling around illegally in the dark with an iPhone.
"A spokesman for Colbert Busch said that the campaign had no comment on the dispute between the Sanfords."
Wise move on her part. No need for her to say a word. Now, her
brother, on the other hand, is gonna have a field day...
Update: I originally posted this story about Sanford's latest jackassery as a bit of light-hearted fluff. Several people have pointed out, rightly so, the not-so-funny side of this story; namely, that it's genuinely creepy to have your ex-spouse wandering around your house against court orders at night. I understand this, truly, and apologize for not seeing the obvious serious angle at play here.
On the other hand, Jenny Sanford has already issued a statement, and she does
not sound like a woman who is either a) naivé about these things nor b) heavily concerned about it:
"I am doing my best not to get in the way of his race," Jenny Sanford told the AP. "I want him to sink or swim on his own. For the sake of my children I'm trying my best not to get in the way, but he makes things difficult for me when he does things like trespassing."
She's being incredibly gracious, and strikes me as someone who truly feels that her ex is more of a pathetic annoyance than a genuine threat to her or her kids. The image I had in my head was Robin Williams' character in Cadillac Man more than anything, but obviously real life obsessive ex-spouses aren't quite so funny.
Let's hope it doesn't go any farther than that. I want this dipshit to lose the election, obviously, but I certainly don't want him to hurt anyone.