By Gina Gomez
Columbia, South Carolina, Mar 19, (THAINDIAN NEWS) South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has finally given his consent to pay an amount of $74,000 in fine to put an end to the allegations that he violated the state ethics code with respect to travel and campaign spending. On the same day, a Charleston County court judge brought an end to his two decade marriage by finalizing his divorce to wife, Jenny Sanford.

Despite the fact that the defamed South Carolina Governor has agreed to pay the fine, a statement released by his office refutes charges of wrongdoing and emphasizes that the costs were not met from taxpayers’ money. The Republican politician would be paying the fine to resolve the 37 ethics violation charges that were levied against him in the month of November last year. The charges accused him of overstepping expenses in travels and using state aircraft as well as campaign funds for his own personal use.

The charges were levied against the limited-term Governor after he disappeared for a number of days in the month of June last year while his assistants were told that he had gone hiking in Appalachian Trail. In reality, the South Carolina Governor went all the way to Argentina to spend quality time with his mistress and confessed having an extramarital affair following his return. In the wake of his infidelity, his wife made the decision of separating from him and subsequently filed for divorce.

Meanwhile, state attorney general Henry McMaster is in the process of reviewing the governor’s travel expenses and other spending which means that Mark Sanford could face criminal charges in the future.