SC commission hearing details on whether Gov. Sanford’s travel merits prosecution
By APWednesday, November 18, 2009
SC ethics panel weighing Gov. Sanford charges
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s State Ethics Commission has begun hearing details on a three-month investigation to decide if there’s evidence that Gov. Mark Sanford broke state ethics laws.
The closed-door commission meeting under way Wednesday is pivotal to efforts by some state legislators to impeach Sanford.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell says he’s seen nothing so far that merits removing Sanford from office and the investigation would have to show serious crimes or misconduct.
The ethics commission is investigating whether Sanford broke rules on travel, including bans on using state airplanes for personal or political purposes. Questions about the governor’s travel practices arose after Sanford acknowledged in June that he had been in Argentina for a five-day rendezvous with his lover.
