South Carolina Governor’s Wife Files for Divorce

“As so many of us know, the dissolution of any marriage is a sad and painful process,” Ms. Sanford said in a statement. “Because Mark and I are public figures, we have naturally had less privacy with which to deal with our difficulties than do other couples. Indeed, I know it will soon become known, so I choose to release this brief notice that I am now filing for divorce.”

The Sanfords have been separated since shortly after he admitted the affair in a teary-eyed news conference. Although Ms. Sanford has been living at the family’s beach house on Sullivan’s Island, S.C., with her four sons, the Sanfords have said publicly that they hoped to salvage the marriage. Even Thursday, Mr. Sanford told the news media that he wanted to remain married.

But that proved untenable, Ms. Sanford said in the statement. “This came after many unsuccessful efforts at reconciliation,” she said, “yet I am still dedicated to keeping the process that lies ahead peaceful for our family.”

She thanked supporters across the country for their “words of encouragement and prayers during this difficult time.”

In her court filing, Ms. Sanford cited adultery as the grounds for divorce, according to the document, which was posted by The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C. “The defendant has engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman other than the plaintiff,” the filing says. “The plaintiff has not condoned that relationship and is informed and believes that she is entitled to a divorce” from Mr. Sanford “on ground of adultery.” The filing said other matters, presumably including custody arrangements and money. would be resolved by agreement.

Governor Sanford issued a statement after her announcement saying that while divorce was not the course he would have hoped for or chosen, he nonetheless accepted full responsibility for the “moral failure” that led to it.