Woes Mounting for Mark Sanford

The Judiciary subcommittee of the South Carolina House began its hearings today on the resolution to impeach Governor Mark Sanford, which was introduced last week. The resolution seeks to remove the two-term Republican governor, whose term expires in January 2011 and is ineligible for re-election, for disappearing from the state for five days in June to visit his Argentine mistress in Buenos Aires.

The Judiciary subcommittee hopes to finish its work before Christmas. Its recommendation then would go to the full House Judiciary Committee. If that committee votes to impeach Sanford, the resolution would go to the full House. If the full House passes the resolution, it would go to the South Carolina Senate, which would try Sanford. If convicted, he would be removed from office.

Most observers believe that Governor Sanford’s impeachment is unlikely.

Separately, the State Ethics Commission has charged Governor Sanford with breaking state ethics laws 37 times, including using state planes for family trips, spending campaign funds on a hunting trip and flying first class, instead of coach, while on state travel. The State Ethics Commission released its findings on Monday after a three-month investigation. In January, a panel of the State Ethics Commission will hear charges against the Governor on these ethics violations charges, which carry a possible fine of $74,000.  The Ethics Commission charges allege that:

- Sanford flew business or first class 18 times between 2005 and 2009 while on state business. Those trips included travel to Europe, Asia and South America. State law requires officials to choose the most economical fare unless there is an urgent reason to do otherwise.

- On 10 occasions, Sanford took money from his campaign account, donated by supporters, and improperly spent it on personal uses, including an Irish hunting trip and a GOP governors meeting in Miami. The money in question, a total of $2,940.68, was spent between 2006 and 2009.- Sanford used state aircraft for personal travel nine times between 2005 and 2008, including a book signing, a birthday party for a contributor, a son’s sporting event and a family getaway to Georgia.

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