But the first lady said Friday that she will move to the family’s oceanfront cottage on Sullivan’s Island, a lush beach enclave near Charleston almost two hours by car from the state capitol, where her husband remains in office. She said their sons, who had gone to school in the Columbia area, will now attend school in the Charleston area.

“From there, we will work to continue the process of healing our family,” Jenny Sanford said. “While we will be leaving Columbia, we will return often, and I will remain engaged in activities in my role as first lady, acknowledging that my responsibilities to my family come first.”…

Jenny Sanford’s statement did not address the state of her marriage, and her spokeswoman declined to elaborate on it or say whether the couple was officially separating.