COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division says Gov. Mark Sanford committed no crime by taking trips out of state and out of the country to see his Argentinean mistress.

"We have found no use of public funds," said Director Reggie Lloyd.

SLED began an inquiry after Sanford returned last week from Argentina and in a rambling confession, admitted he had gone to Buenos Aires to see his mistress, Maria Chapur.

Sanford said he had only been with her three times, including last year on a trip to Argentina that was paid for with public money. Sanford later reimbursed the state but maintained the trip was legitimate.

Then on Tuesday of this week, Sanford told the Associated Press that he had visited Chapur on additional occasions, including trips to New York.

Lloyd said Sanford turned over his own financial records to investigators to prove he had paid his own way and even agreed to sit down and personally answer any questions.

"Sometimes fairness just means standing up and saying there is nothing there," said Lloyd. "We looked and there was nothing there."

Following Lloyd's news conference the governor's office released the same Sanford financial records that had been turned over to SLED and issued a statement saying that the governor was pleased that SLED had confirmed what he had been saying all the time.

A Republican state representative from Rock Hill, Gary Simrill, said he has heard that Sanford is now thinking about taking a two-month leave of absence from his office to try to get his life back on track.

Simrill, who has called on Sanford to resign, said that would only prolong the inevitable.

"Taking 60 days off is good for the governor but not good for the state," Simrill said.

Meanwhile, first lady Jenny Sanford released a statement Thursday saying her husband's affair was "inexcusable" but said she is willing to forgive him.

Jenny Sanford's e-mailed statement was her first public comment since her husband told The Associated Press earlier this week that his mistress is his soul mate but he is trying to fall back in love with his wife.

"My forgiveness is essential for us both to move on with our lives, with peace, in whatever direction that may take us," Jenny Sanford said in the statement. "Mark has stated that his intent and determination is to save our marriage, and to make amends to the people of South Carolina. I hope he can make good on those intentions, and for the sake of our boys."

She said it is up to South Carolina voters and elected officials to decide whether they can "give Mark another chance."

Spokesman Joel Sawyer said Thursday that Mark Sanford plans to spend the holiday weekend with his wife and sons in Florida, where his in-laws live.

"He remains committed and determined to repair the damage he has done in his marriage and to building back the trust of the people of South Carolina," Sawyer said.

Sawyer would not say where the family will stay. He asked the media to respect their privacy and declined to comment on how the governor would travel Friday.

(The Associated Press contributed.)