Answer: B. 37. In 2009, a probe into Sanford’s spending habits while in office resulted in 37 charges of “using his office for personal financial gain,” The New York Times reported at.the time He later avoided criminal charges and settled up on the civil issues by paying fines totaling $74,000. Sanford: Just watched Super Bowl

Former South Carolina governor and congressional candidate Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday that he entered his ex-wife’s home in early February — an apparent violation of the terms of their divorce settlement — but said he did it so his son wouldn’t have to watch the Super Bowl alone.

The 1st Congressional District Republican candidate, running in a close race against Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, responded with a lengthy statement to an Associated Press report Tuesday night that Jenny Sanford filed a court complaint accusing him of trespassing. The news is a serious setback to Sanford, coming less than three weeks before the May 7 special election and as he is trying to assuage voter concerns about his extramarital affair that derailed his political career four years ago.


( Also on POLITICO: Ex-wife claims Sanford trespassed)

“It’s an unfortunate reality that divorced couples sometimes have disagreements that spill over into family court,” Sanford wrote. “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. Given she was out of town, I tried to reach her beforehand to tell her of the situation that had arisen, and met her at the back steps under the light of my cell phone when she returned and told her what had happened.

( PHOTOS: Mark Sanford’s career)

“There is always another side to every story, and while I am particularly curious how records that were sealed to avoid the boys dealing with embarrassment are now somehow exposed less than three weeks before this election, I agree with Jenny that the media is no place to debate what is ultimately a family court matter. And out of respect for Jenny and the boys, I’m not going to have any further comment at this time,” Sanford said.

Sanford has been ordered to appear in family court on May 9, two days after the election, for a hearing on the complaint. It alleges that Sanford has trespassed on Jenny Sanford’s property several times.