Gubernatorial Candidate Nikki Halley (R-SC) has categorically deniedthe affair between herself and Governor Mark Sanford's former spokesman and conservative blogger Will Folks:
"I have been 100% faithful to my husband throughout our 13 years of marriage," Haley responded in a statement, following up with an appearance on a Columbia radio station. "This claim against me is categorically and totally false."
Sarah Palin has come to her defense:
"Well, whaddya know? South Carolina’s conservative candidate, Nikki Haley, recently zipped to the front of the line in her state’s race for governor; and lo and behold, now accusations of an affair surface," Palin wrote. "Nikki categorically denies the accusation that was spewed out there by a political blogger who has the gall to throw the stone, but then quickly duck and hide and proclaim he would not comment further on the issue. Quite convenient."
Well, whaddya know, Will Folks is now saying he has emails, text messages, and voice mails to prove it:
"As far as what comes out and when it comes out, I'm going to leave that to the advice of my attorneys. But I'll tell you what, at some point, everything comes out," he told News Channel 7 by phone Tuesday morning.
Folks goes on to say that he has kept the Haley campaign full informed of his intentions to announce the affair on his website and that he still supports her candidacy. In addition, Folks' website released a statement today that states:
Make no mistake, the credibility of this website will be defended – and the veracity of our claim will be documented.
That statement goes on to implicate Republican Congressman Gresham Barrett in the matter, alleging that it was his campaign that learned of the affair and approached a South Carolina reporter about it. The Columbia Free Times confirms it has been working on the story for several weeks and that it had contacted Folks about it.
Somebody is lying. Stay tuned, Sarah.
Update: Folks' blog stated, in a statement partly titled "Haleygate" that it has taken care to lawyer up awaiting a libel suit. None has been announced from Haley so far. Nor has she asked for a retraction of the allegation.