Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is joining Fox News as a political commentator through the 2012 presidential elections.
Fox News Channel spokeswoman Caitlin Frost confirmed Saturday that the two-term Republican governor has been hired as a contributor. She declined to say when he would start.
Sanford was a rising political star before he vanished from the state in 2009, and reporters were told he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. When he reappeared, he admitted being in Argentina with a woman he later called his soul mate.
Sanford has appeared on Fox since leaving office in January. In September, he said his interview with Sean Hannity was his way of slowly getting back to talking about the nation's troubles.
Sanford's job was first reported by The New York Times.
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