Sanford’s Ex-Wife|Claims He Trespassed

(CN) - Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, now engaged in a special election campaign for Congress, trespassed on his ex-wife's property, Jenny Sanford claims in court.

Jenny Sanford filed a complaint in Charleston County Family Court on Feb. 4, claiming she confronted the former governor at her home the previous day, finding him using his cellphone as a flashlight.

The Sanfords went through a very public divorce in 2009, after then-Gov. Sanford disappeared from the state and returned to reveal that he had been having an affair with an Argentine woman who is now his fiancee.

He is now in the general election phase of a campaign to determine who will replace former Congressman Tim Scott, who left the post late last year to replace retiring Jim DeMint in the U.S. Senate. Sanford's opponent in the race is Democrat Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, an administrator with Clemson University's Restoration Institute and sister of comedian Stephen Colbert.

Balloting in South Carolina's First Congressional district is set for May 7. Colbert-Busch has declined to comment on the matter.

In the complaint, Jenny Sanford says her ex-husband "has entered into a pattern of entering onto [her] property, both at her former and current residences, without her permission and against her wishes."

"Plaintiff has informed defendant on a number of occasions that this behavior is in violation of the court's order, and has demanded that it not occur again," the complaint states. "She has additionally filed a 'no trespass' letter with her local police department. Defendant has acknowledged plaintiff's wishes and, on a number of occasion, has agreed not to again violate this provision of the order."

Jenny Sanford wants her ex-husband held in contempt of court for failing to comply with the divorce order and asks that he be "punished accordingly."

She is seeks court costs and attorney's fees.

Mark Sanford told reporters Wednesday that he did inadvertently violate the terms of the divorce settlement, to watch the Super Bowl with his son.

"It's an unfortunate reality that divorced couples sometimes have disagreements that spill over into family court," he said. "I did, indeed, watch the second half of the Super Bowl at the beach house with our 14-year-old son because as a father, I didn't think he should watch it alone."

Sanford said he tried to reach his wife beforehand, but was unable to do so. He said when she arrived home he met her at the back steps of the house, using the light of his cellphone to illuminate the conversation.

He said the complaint was supposed to be sealed, so he would make no further comment on the matter.

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