JENNY SANFORD TO LEAVE CHEATING HUSBAND

After a tumultuous year of trying to reconcile marital difficulties with her cheating husband, South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford has filed for divorce.

Mrs. Sanford made the announcement on Friday that she would be leaving Gov. Mark Sanford, who made a tearful confession in June that he had been having an affair with a woman in Argentina he called his “soul mate.”

“As so many of us know, the dissolution of any marriage is a sad and painful process. It is also a very personal and private one,” Jenny 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. This came after many unsuccessful efforts at reconciliation, yet I am still dedicated to keeping the process that lies ahead peaceful for our family.

“I remain thankful to so many across this state and nation for their words of encouragement and prayers during this difficult time. Please know the boys and I are doing well and are blessed with the incredible support of friends and family and bolstered by our faith and the unfailing love of our God above,” she said.

The Sanfords, who have four boys, have been living apart for at least four months since Jenny made a very public departure from the governor’s mansion.

On Wednesday, Jenny Sanford was named one of Barbara Walters’ 10 most fascinating people of 2009. On the same day, a House judiciary committee voted against impeaching the governor over allegations that he broke state ethics laws.