Maria Chapur Speaks: Argentine Woman Admits Sanford Relationship

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A 41-year-old Argentine former reporter acknowledged having a relationship with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, saying Sunday that widely published e-mail correspondence between the two was obtained from her account without permission.

In a brief statement sent to news network C5n of Buenos Aires, Maria Belen Chapur said she will not talk about her private life, which has already been the focus of intense media scrutiny in the United States and Argentina.

"I have decided to send this statement to clear up certain incorrect things that are being reported and put an end to a matter that, as you imagine, is very painful to me, my two children, my entire family and close friends."

Chapur said someone accessed her Hotmail account without permission late last year and leaked e-mail correspondence that described a relationship with Sanford to the South Carolina newspaper The State.

But she denied the "hacker" is a friend of hers _ as has been widely reported here _ saying he is as much a victim of the media frenzy as she.

"I have a strong suspicion of who is responsible for this evil act that was directed at me but also destroyed the lives of so many others," Chapur said. "But without sufficient proof, and for legal reasons, I am obligated to not reveal the name.

"It is not for me to judge anyone. I leave it all in the hands of God," she concluded.

The statement was addressed to C5n anchor Eduardo Feinman, who read it on camera. Feinman was Chapur's editor when she worked briefly as a television reporter in 2001.

It was widely reported that Chapur was Sanford's mistress after the governor admitted to the relationship following a secret trip to Argentina earlier this month.

But he did not identify Chapur.

Reporters staked out Chapur's building in an upper-class neighborhood in the Argentine capital for days trying to locate her, and pressed for information from neighbors and the owner of a bar she reportedly visited with Sanford.

People who know Chapur describe her as an elegant, well-mannered, soft-spoken woman who speaks several languages. She is a graduate in political science from the Catholic University of Buenos Aires and the divorced mother of two sons.

Heber Alvarez, a doorman at her building, said she often rises early for morning jogs through the neighborhood.

Comments

[jackbutler5555]

Can we agree what other people do is none of our business?

Oh, we can't?

[AntiSheep13]

Tell that to TMZ

[jackbutler5555]

I get the impression that some posters here appear to be castigating Sanford and his paramour, but are actually talking about past confrontations with previous spouses. Or, am I wrong?

[AndyatHP]

She doesnt blow Monica lewinsky away!! Remember the dress??? In any case, why would a married man who is in a position of power go out of country to have a fling? Thats crazy!!! Buy American I say!!!!!! Jokes aside, Sanford made a fool of his wife, and the voters. To be so public with it (throwing it in her face) is shameful. He cant be trusted (like all Republicans), so cast him out. We are finding out what my grandmother always taught us kids..namely, that those who claim to be the most devout are 99 percent out of 100 the biggest sinners. Republicans, unlike most true christians I know, should stop talking the talk, and live the talk. Opps, they cant. Democrats are sinners too, but they dont go about hitting everyone over the head with a bible. It makes me smile when they get caight

[jackbutler5555]

In Sanford's defense, I have the impression he didn't want the affair to be public. Or, are you talking about some subconscious desire?

[AntiSheep13]

I stand by my statement that Chapur BLOWS Lewinsky away...Sanford had an incredible life going; His wife is an inheritance baby of the Skil Corp. That money and power is what helped Mark gain his political power.

Maria Chapur must be doing something special to cause Mark to risk blowing his comfortable life with his sugar mama wife.

[AntiSheep13]

She's actually very beautiful. http://www.apakistannews.com/maria-belen-chapur-photos-127468

[WarrenPease]

She's too good for him.

[jazzybo]

This woman should shave her eye browes off and paint on some new ones.

[AntiSheep13]

I'd like to see a photo of you. That way we can tell you what you need to improve.

[jackbutler5555]

jazzybo: No one can delve into public issues as deeply as you can.

[BunnyMama]

Sanford's house was up for sale until a month ago (if not more recently). I found this out by doing a zaba search to get his home address on the island and then googling that address and finding the listing for the house.
That sounds to me like an impending divorce.

[larissa68]

I hope she nails him.

Well not nails in the .. er never mind but I hope she makes him cry... well maybe not cry.

Anyway, I hope she makes him pay in the divorce. Wait it's her money.

Is there anything she can do in the divorce besides keep the kids?

[AntiSheep13]

Why did you want his home address?

[SadieGirl]

No offense, but is this Maria a woman or a man? Picture makes me wonder. Good grief.

[BunnyMama]

C'mon - she's a big improvement over Ri elle Hunter.

[AntiSheep13]

And she blows Lewinsky away.

[Montana4change]

I wondered when the msm would pick up on the 'women' part of this story. No wonder he hasn't achieved anything in his 6 1/2 years as governor. He has been way to busy entertaining the laydees.

[TLThomas]

"It is not for me to judge anyone. I leave it all in the hands of God," she concluded.

Pretty nervy, eh? Did she once think about God when she was sleeping with her "family friend's" husband? People crack me up, bringing God into a mess long after they've screwed up everything.

[nikto]

Magnificent!!

and

Magnificent!

BOTH of them.

[TruthmongerII]

I love all the Rethuglican enablers in this room, defending Mark's right to stick his wick into a mistress outside the country, at taxpayers' expense, during Fathers Day weekend.

Aren't they pieces of work themselves: I wonder what skeletons lurk in their closets?

Guess I shouldn't say anything; they're doing a great job all by themselves.

[larissa68]

You have to understand, she's really quite lovely and because of that he's entitled!

And also, we have no right to critize because she's from Argentinia! We should keep our mouths shut being Americans with all sorts of problems and what not.

Woe.

[adamnb]

your logic is impeccable! So then, we're only allowed to compliment Argentines, right? or is that only limited to its lovely women?

[jackbutler5555]

Uh, I gather you mean he's not entitled because she's "quite lovely." You were being sarcastic, right? Would he be entitled if she were ugly? Probably not, eh? Or, maybe that "quite lovely" assessment is sarcasm, too.

On the Argentina comment, let's see. That must be sarcasm, too. We do have a right to criticize her because she's from Argentina. Or, maybe you mean we can criticize her because being from Argentina doesn't exempt her from our scrutiny.

Woe.

[LadyBeryl]

This hussy blames the hacker for ruining the lives of Sanford's family and her own. How about blaming herself and Sanford? The hacker had nothing to do with their adulterous affair.

Then she has the nerve to reference diety, "It is not for me to judge anyone. I leave it all in the hands of God". If she and Sanford had put their lives in the hands of God, we wouldn't be commenting on this.

[Gabisol]

hacking emails is illegal in most countries, it's considered violation of correspondence

[larissa68]

WE GET IT.

It's a crime here too but you're missing the point. The references to God are ironic? Foul? Inappropriate? in light of what she was doing.

Oh forget it.

[Beegood]

I think the point is this: if there weren't steamy emails to hack, then there wouldn't be emails to hack. She brought this onto herself - she is 41 years old and should know what can happen when decide to sleep with a married governor.

[tundramonkey]

Have you ever READ the Bible? God really likes the naughty bits, at least in the Old Testament. Sanford is a piker by OT rules, and Clinton is effin Moses.

[larissa68]

Uh huh. And then there's the TEN COMMANDMENTS.

WHOOPS.

[Brovnikk88]

Maria Chapur has a face even more beautiful than that of Helen of Troy who was reputed to be so beautiful that she " ... had a face that could launch a thousand ships."

Both women are so beautiful that men would basically do anything for them.

Therefore Mark Sanford deserves a second chance --- he just proved that he's a genuine red-blooded American man.

Case closed.

[larissa68]

Nice.

Do youself a favor. Don't ever get married. She doesn't deserve you.

[LadyBeryl]

Oh please.

It doesn't matter how "beautiful" you or Sanford think she is. Cheating is wrong and there is never an excuse to cheat.

Your argument is as logical as justifying breaking into someone's house because you know they have 10 million dollars laying around inside.

Everyone "deserves a second chance" -- not just those who behave as you would.

[reasonlives]

Exaggerate much?

[tundramonkey]

Your weenie is not a leash. Grow up.

[AntiSheep13]

That's some interesting logic, Brovnikk88

[atlantishp]

When are the bikini pix coming out?

[AntiSheep13]

I heard that the video is as gripping as the romantic emails.

[joycehelene]

It takes two to TANGO in Argentina, if you didn't have this affair, your life would be just fine, don't blame anyone but yourself for what you and your family are going through now. If you mess around, sooner or later you will get caught and all the sordid details will come out in the wash.

[Gabisol]

You people don't understand that the governor was separated of his wife when he was out of the country. She admitted it, and she agreed with her husband with the separation.

The only deceived in this matter was the public opinion, who didn't know the governor was separated. His wife knew he wasn't sleeping with her. If she wants to call it "hiking the A..." let her deceive american people. But she knew that he loved another woman and that he wasn't sleeping with her during all those days. Conclusion?

I think Chapur blame the governor's wife, because she had agreed with her husband about the private separation and then the emails were leaked to the public opinion, hurting a lot of people. Someone broke a previous agreement here, and it isn't difficult to know who was that person.

[larissa68]

I love these little argentinian fans defending her.

Were you in the room with him? Did you hear these conversations?

LOL

[betttyrubble]

By Sanford's account, the affair began eight months ago.

Nice try, though. I love the enabling. hahaha.

[citizensrus]

That isn't the case. Where did you come up with this tale? Jenny Sanford told him not to go to Argentina and thought he was doing some soul searching.

[Beegood]

Ahem, the affair began a year ago, the separation began 2 weeks ago. His wife told him repeatedly that she didn't want him to see her again, and they went through counseling becasue he said he wanted to work on the marriage. You don't have your facts straight.

Now, I've never been divorced, but I would think there is a difference between a separation, to calm down during a highly emotional time - to work on your marriage and a separation that is merely a waiting period until your divorce is final. Nobody has filed for divorce, that the public knows of. Besides, having a lover during either type of separation is tacky, and frankly pretty selfish and insensitive when children are involved. It's not like the governor is going to go blind if he doesn't do "it".

[AntiSheep13]

Hey Gabisol; They were separated because of the affair.