Sanford was in Argentina, not hiking

UPDATED:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Gov. Mark Sanford told a newspaper he was in Argentina, not hiking the Appalachian Trail as his staff had told the public to explain his sudden absence. He said he “wanted to do something exotic” to unwind after losing a fight over federal stimulus money.

The State newspaper reported that Sanford arrived Wednesday morning at Atlanta’s international airport on a flight from Buenos Aires, where he drove along the coast of what he called a “beautiful” city.

The Republican governor told the South Carolina newspaper he considering hiking, but at the last minute changed his mind.

“But I said ‘no’ I wanted to do something exotic,” Sanford told the newspaper.

RELATED STORY: Sanford’s trek to woods draws queries

Sanford’s spokesman Joel Sawyer declined to immediately comment to The Associated Press, and the governor did not return cell phone messages.

Sanford planned a news conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday at his office in Columbia.

The newspaper reporter, Gina Smith, told CNN she received a tip that Mr. Sanford would arrive at the Atlanta airport so she went there and found him.

She said Mr. Sanford said he wanted to relax unnoticed after a tough legislative session.

Miss Smith also said Mr. Sanford said he has not hiked the trail since high school and that he went to Buenos Aires, where he had been two previous times.

She said Mr. Sanford said he spent some of his time driving along the coast and that he traveled alone. However, Mr. Sanford stopped answering questions when Miss Smith asked whether he stayed in a hotel, saying “I know where you’re going,” the reporter said.

Miss Smith said a state-owned vehicle was found at the South Carolina airport, but she did not find one at the Atlanta airport.

Critics slammed his administration for lying to the public.

“Lies. Lies. Lies. That’s all we get from his staff. That’s all we get from his people. That’s all we get from him,” said state Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia. “Why all the big cover-up?”

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