Mark Sanford’s Appalachian Trail journey has finally come to an end.
The South Carolina congressman on Friday announced that he called off his engagement with Maria Belen Chapur, a dramatic end to the couple’s years-long relationship, which began in the former governor’s extramarital affair that led to political disgrace, lasting through to his public comeback just last year.
In a bizarre and rambling 2,300-word Facebook message, Sanford described in detail the reasons behind the break up, alluding to tensions with his ex-wife Jenny and their bitter custody spats. Chapur first learned of the post through the media, according to The New York Times.
“No relationship can stand forever this tension of being forced to pick between the one you love and your own son or daughter, and for this reason Belen and I have decided to call off the engagement,” Sanford wrote. “Belen is a remarkably wonderful woman who I have always loved and I will be forever grateful for not only the many years we have known and loved each other, but the last six very tough ones wherein she has encouraged me and silently borne its tribulations with her ever warm and kind spirit.”
Sanford resigned as chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association in 2009 following revelations that he lied to his staffers, telling them he was hiking the Appalachian Mountains while he was in fact in South America with Chapur.
Unlike other former politicians attempting to outrun sex scandals last year, Sanford made a successful re-entry into politics, insisting that he was genuinely in love with his mistress, and the two were making plans to get married.









