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COLUMBIA, S.C. The spokesman for the philandering governor of South Carolina plans to leave his state job.

Press secretary Joel Sawyer said Friday that his resignation from Gov. Mark Sanford's staff is effective Aug. 5.

Sawyer said he is leaving to pursue unspecified opportunities in the private sector and that his boss's revelation of an extramarital affair has nothing to do with his departure.

Sawyer has worked for the two-term Republican for more than six years. Prior to that, he worked as a newspaper reporter.

Since Sanford revealed the affair June 24, his office has been dealing with dozens of media requests for interviews and records of the governor's e-mail, finances and travel.

The governor said in a statement that Sawyer has been a devoted staff member.