Governor Sanford is accused of breaking 37 laws.
Sanford says he thinks he would have been vindicated if the Ethics Commission had heard the case, but didn't want to continue what he called an endless media circus.
COLUMBIA (AP) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has agreed to pay $74,000 to settle charges that his travel and campaign spending violated state ethics laws.
The Republican governor is accused of breaking 37 laws, including improperly using pricey plane tickets for a trip to Argentina where he saw the mistress he infamously called his soul mate.
Under a consent agreement signed Thursday, Sanford doesn't admit guilt but does not contest the charges either.
In a statement, Sanford says he thinks he would have been vindicated if the Ethics Commission had heard the case, but didn't want to continue what he called an endless media circus.
The charges were brought after Associated Press investigations into the governor's commercial travel and flights on state planes. Sanford also is accused of improperly reimbursing himself with campaign money.
The State Ethics Commission approved the agreement Thursday.
Sanford is term-limited and will leave office in January.
Click here to read Governor Sanford's full statement on the agreement of ethics fines.
Also Thursday, a family court judge issued a ruling that finalized Sanford's marriage with former wife Jenny. Click here for the full story.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH