Sanford admits affair

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday admitted to having an extramarital affair.

Sanford, a Republican, said at a press conference that he is a “bottom line type of guy” and immediately said he wanted to apologize to his family.

“Let me first of all apologize to my wife…and our four boys,” Sanford said.

“I’ve been unfaithful to my wife,” he added.

Sanford, who has been considered a 2012 Republican presidential contender, disappeared last week without his security detail. His staff initially reported that he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. It revealed on Wednesday last that he was actually in Argentina.

The governor, who broke down into tears during the press conference, apologized to his staff and others, saying he let down many people in a “profound way.”

“All I can say is that I apologize,” Sanford said.

Sanford went on to say that he is going to resign from his position as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

Taking questions, Sanford said that his wife has known about the affair and they have been working through it for about five months. He has known his mistress for eight years but only developed a romantic relationship with her in the last year.

“We developed a remarkable friendship over those eight years,” he said. “Then about a year ago it sparked into something more than that.”

jeremy.jacobs@digital-staging.thehill.com