SLED reviews funds, clears governor

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SLED director Reggie Lloyd

Gov. Mark Sanford

COLUMBIA, SC (WTOC) - The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division says state funds were not improperly used during Gov. Mark Sanford's trips to Argentina.

SLED director Reggie Lloyd announced its findings today at a news conference in Columbia. The law enforcement agency looked at Sanford's spending and travel records amid cries from lawmakers and the state's attorney general that the governor's records related to several trips be investigated.

"Over the last few days, SLED has been asked by a number of people to look into a number of allegations regarding the alleged use of public money for any improper purposes in the governor's relationship that he revealed recently," said Lloyd.

Lloyd said SLED looked at public records from the attorney general's office, the control board and the governor's office. He said SLED also looked at the governor's personal financial records that Lloyd says Sanford provided to them.

"SLED at this time will say in regards to this relationship, we have found no improper use of public funds," said Lloyd.

Last week, Sanford admitted to having an affair with a woman from Argentina.

See Sanford: "I've been unfaithful to my wife".

Then on Tuesday, the governor admitted he has "crossed the line'' with other women during the course of his 20 year marriage beyond the long-term affair with his Argentine mistress.

See Sanford admits further indiscretions.

South Carolina attorney general Henry McMaster called for SLED to look into Sanford's travels to see if he used any public money in the course of his affair.

"This was not a criminal inquiry, this was not a criminal investigation," said Lloyd. "At no time during this period of review did SLED learn any information, any facts, any evidence that would suggest that a crime had been committed."

Lloyd said the governor was cooperative with their review. "The man has been open with us," he said. "He provided his personal records, his credit cards, to show he had spent his money on travel and other expenses."

The governor has said he will reimburse the state for an economic development trip he took to Argentina last year. Sanford insists no public money was used for any other meetings with his mistress.

Lloyd says the governor is voluntarily paying back those funds. "Our conclusion was it was decision he made on his own to repay those funds for appearance sake," said Lloyd. "Based on interviews and documents from the Department of Commerce, that the Argentine trip was totally business."

Lloyd said SLED investigators determined the governor was on a legitimate business trip to South America in 2008 and attended meetings with various government officials and business leaders.

"He was on a business trip and what he did on his personal time is his own business" Lloyd said. "Whatever else he did during that time didn't change the legitimacy of that trip."

In an interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday, Sanford described seven meetings with his mistress which included two multi-night stays with her in New York.

SLED looked into those trips as well.

"We reviewed state documents that showed there was no public funds used for that trip to New York," Lloyd said. "We also looked at the documentation during those time periods from the state to see if there were any reimbursements from the state to him and there were none."

During the news conference, Lloyd emphasized several times this was not a criminal investigation, but merely a review and added that SLED does not take political sides.

"I repeatedly said what SLED will not do is get involved in matters properly in the political realm," said Lloyd. "We have not done that nor will we do that. Those are questions best left to either the general assembly or to the governor's office to answer."

SLED will be forwarding its report to the attorney general's office and the State Ethics Commission. Lloyd said those offices can then, "take whatever action they believe they need to."

After SLED revealed its finding, Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer released a statement:

"We're pleased that SLED has concluded its review, which confirms what we've said from day one. No public money was used in relation to the governor's admitted marital infidelity. This issue is behind us once and for all."

In his statement, Sawyer went on to say the governor's office is now releasing Sanford's personal travel records so there can be, "full and complete disclosure and transparency."

To read the public records, click here. To read the private records, click here.