S.C. Governor Mark Sanford issued an apology via social and news networking site Twitter.com on Monday evening asking for forgiveness from friends and supporters.

“Well beyond the personal consequences within my own family, I know that at so many different levels my actions have upset, offended and disappointed friends and supporters and for this I am most sorry. As I mentioned in last week’s press conference, I’ve always believed God’s laws were there to protect us from ourselves, and what has transpired over this last week vividly illustrates the damage that comes personally, and to those you love and respect, in doing otherwise…”

Sanford, said in the post that he is committed to growing personally and spiritually and had considered resigning, but staying in office would ultimately make him a better person.

“I could elicit the response that I had at many times indeed gotten from other state leaders.. Their belief was that if I walked in with a real spirit of humility then this last legislative term could well be our most productive one - and that outside this term, I would ultimately be a better person and of more service in whatever doors God opened next in life if I stuck around to learn lessons rather than running and hiding down at the farm.”

Monday’s 5 p.m. Twitter update was Sanford’s first addressing his affair, and also his first post since 5:58 a.m. on Monday, June 22 – only hours prior to his staff announcing his Appalachian Trail tale.

The following evening, Sanford’s tall tale was spoiled as CNN began to report finding his black Suburban at the Columbia Metropolitian Airport with camping gear still inside.

Sanford, who as of Monday had 3,925 followers on the networking site, has been tweeting since April 8, 2009 when he addressed his issues with the federal stimulus plan. His updates consist mostly of thoughts and disagreement with policy and updates on public events he has been present.

Follow The Times and Democrat via Twitter at http://twitter.com/thetandd.

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