NEW YORK TIMES: Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina, apologized in a rambling news conference on Wednesday for having an extra-marital affair with a woman in Argentina, ending a mystery over his week-long disappearance that had infuriated lawmakers and seemed to put his rising political career in jeopardy. Governor Sanford admitted he had been in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since Thursday, not hiking on the Appalachian Trail as he told his staff. In revealing an affair that had gone on for about a year — and which he had disclosed to his wife, Jenny, five months ago, he said: “This was selfishness on my part.” Mr. Sanford announced on Wednesday that he was resigning his position as chairman of the Republican Governors Association. MORE
RELATED: Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), a day after admitting an extramarital affair with a campaign staffer, has resigned his position within the GOP leadership. “He’s accepted responsibility for his actions and apologized to his family and constituents. He offered, and I accepted, his resignation as chairman of the Policy Committee,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement just issued. That position, No. 4 among the leadership ranks, provided Ensign a staff of about two dozen aides and a platform to promote both conservative causes and his own political ambition. MORE