S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford failed to report at least thirty-five flights on private planes – air transportation that was provided to him by friends and political allies that he is required to publicly disclose, according to a new report from the Associated Press.
State ethics law requires that South Carolina public officials to document with the State Ethics Commission who is paying for their travel.
This represents the third “plane-related” scandal involving the embattled S.C. governor since he admitted in late June that he had been having an affair with his Argentine lover, Maria Belen Chapur.
Previously, Sanford has come under fire for improper upgrades to first class seats (in violation of state travel guidelines) on state trips and for misusing the state plane for personal and political reasons.
WEB EXTRA
By shiya August 21, 2009 at 4:53 pm
The Houston Chronical has more on this:
“Sanford arranged to meet with his mistress in one of the 2008 RGA trips that he did not disclose. He had been traveling to Ireland for RGA in November, and arranged a meeting with the woman when he returned, according to records he released after the affair became public.
Hazelwood said such trips funded by political groups should be disclosed to the state.”They don’t report it to us to begin with,” she said, adding that Sanford’s explanation for not reporting the plane use belongs “in the lame pile. He’s got a growing list in the lame pile.”
The Chronicle also says the Commerce head, Joe Taylor, is a “close friend” of Sanford. Hmmmmm
By Elise August 21, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Will AP be looking into the all constitutional officers? House and Senate leadership?
I know half a dozen that are ferried around on a regular basis.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' August 21, 2009 at 5:03 pm
CaroleDon is calling for his resignation. I hate it when she’s right.
By Minto W. McGill August 21, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Seems like this is the most serious of the three, Slick. There is not a lot of legal precedent for what happens to folks who upgrade when they shouldn’t. Not much more for using a state plane for personal reasons – particularly if there is a scintilla of evidence that a little bit of state business was mixed in with all that personal time.
But, public officials accepting very expensive gifts (like chartered jets) and not reporting them to either the ethics commission or election commission (if they were campaign related), there is PLENTY of precedence for what happens to those folks! . . . and it ain’t pretty.
One other point, is damn interesting to me that it is the Associated Press that keeps beating The State, Post & Courier, Greenville News & Charlotte Observer to the punch over and over. Are these guys out getting drunk and playing poker every afternoon? Is Jim Davenport the only reporter in SC who puts in more than a 3 hour day? What gives?
By COURTNEY August 21, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Does the idiot just not get it ??? Where is Andre Bauer when we need him to pilot a plane for us !!! Can it get any worse ??? The shit just keeps piling up deeper and deeper…Markie, can’t you smell the piles behind you as you are dropping them ?????
By 1+1=3 August 21, 2009 at 5:21 pm
maybe he was trying to become a member of the mile high club
By CNSYD August 21, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I am totally shocked. Not that this occurred but that the AP would report it. Don’t they know he is one of the chosen and therefore exempt? The ethics rules only apply to the little people like us.
Question: is there any culpability on the part of the aircraft provider to report who they carried when it is a public official?
By Um, no August 21, 2009 at 5:35 pm
This might be a good time to remind everyone of the time Gandolfo, the guy mentioned in the story as having provided Sanford with free plane rides, once got in trouble for providing you with a free red corvette for a little while. While you worked for Sanford. That story.
By shiya August 21, 2009 at 5:40 pm
From a poster at the State website who checked Bing to see what flight Sanford used this past weekend when he was supposedly at reserve duty (with or without Maria).
“Hey everyone I did more browing on Bing News. Mark and Sanford and his his mistress used the Silverflight on August 18. Mark also used the same plane on Aug. No destinations were indicated. The news showed a graph with Install Silverlight. Those 2 dates shoed Ms used those planes. How someone put in mistress, I have no idea. was going to check further but security warning and did not want to take a chance. Maybe one of you can explain what that chart means.
http://www.bing.com/xrank/search?q-Mark%20sanford@FORM=mf
Could that be concrete evidence we need to know Maria is her?”
By Somebody help us... August 21, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Why is it that Sanford is STILL in the governor’s mansion and politicos here in Chesterfield County have reportly gotten the FBI investigation into Jay Hodge and solicitor’s office quashed? The posts aren’t even worth reading anymore. According to one blogger on the MM Accounts Frozen, payback is being plotted against those who spoke up.
When people can get away with this much corruption and only lose their jobs or have to pay a fine, something is terribly amiss.
What in the hell is going on with SC government? Anything they get charged with just rolls off, like H2O off a duck’s back.
I’m glad that Jenny Sanford is not from here. At least she doesn’t have to put up with any of the good ole’ boy bullshit. I hope she takes him to the cleaners.
Any comments or info. on this solicitor investigation up here in Chesterfield County, FITS? Love to hear it, if you do. If you can’t comment, I understand. Thanks.
By anonymous August 21, 2009 at 6:25 pm
THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!
Sanford used the private planes, including some owned by supporters, to fly around the state for political functions, to attend sporting events with supporters and, at times, to go on vacation with his family, the calendars show. In one 2005 trip, the family took Sanford supporter J.T. Gandolfo’s Cessna to the Bahamas for “personal time” and returned on a King Air whose owner was not identified in the governor’s records.
Sanford frequently used Gandolfo’s planes, records show. In November 2003, he used the King Air to travel to Clemson and Spartanburg for county political events; in August 2005, he used Gandolfo’s Cessna to return from Atlanta after a family vacation, according to Sanford’s office calendars.
The governor also used a plane co-owned by Joe Taylor, a friend and supporter who was named head of the state’s Commerce Department. In December 2005, Sanford’s calendar shows he flew on Taylor’s plane to return from a Christmas party.
Sanford also used Taylor’s plane to attend an economic development event in May 2007.
Sanford also used private planes provided by political groups and the Republican Governors’ Association, which he headed until he publicly admitted the affair.
Sanford arranged to meet with his mistress in one of the 2008 RGA trips that he did not disclose. He had been traveling to Ireland for RGA in November, and arranged a meeting with the woman when he returned. Hazelwood said such trips funded by political groups should be disclosed to the state.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101946_2.html
*****
By anonymous August 21, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Columbia attorney Karl Bowers, who was asked by the governor to respond to the latest allegations…
Bowers said of the governor’s 400+ trips on private planes there were “maybe six or seven” trips that he said might be subject to the reporting requirement.
But Cathy Hazelwood, general counsel for the state Ethics Commission, said “all of the governor’s flights on private planes “need to be disclosed somewhere.”
“South Carolinians are again asking themselves whether this governor is so arrogant that he thinks the law doesn’t apply to him, or so ignorant that he thinks he can get away with breaking any rules that inconvenience him,” said state Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler. “Whether Mark Sanford’s current problems are caused by his arrogance or ignorance, it’s clear that many of South Carolina’s problems are caused by his failure to be an effective governor.”
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod renewed his call for Sanford’s resignation, saying he would personally deliver to Sanford a signed petition demanding the governor step down.
“He has misused his office, misused taxpayer money, and now we learn he has been taking valuable gifts under the table,” McLeod said Friday. “It appears he’s committed a serious crime. We need a governor who is worried about creating jobs, instead of just worried about keeping his own.”
http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10971692
****
By ethel krabitz August 21, 2009 at 7:07 pm
well, now that the Lockerbie bomber is out……..maybe we can arrange a private charter for Sandford!
By SC observer August 21, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Who knew SC would be so rich in comedic talent?
By SC Moderate August 21, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Many of the articles relating to travelgate, have Sanford saying he went “out of his way” to save the state money, etc…
(At the risk of being a little over-analytical), This gives a clear insight into his entitled, rules-apply-to-me-differently mantra (or rules-are-for-the-inferior mantra). It would be like a person saying they “go out of their way” to be try to be a good parent. Its a governor’s job (and law) to do these things… not an option you can go out of your way to accommodate.
Such a mindset can be seen in almost every aspect of Sanford‘s destructive decisions.
And maybe he does thing trying to be a good parent is optional, After all, he said in his love-emails that he was fully aware of the potential fallout, and that was a risk he was willing to take!
IT is way past time to remind Sanford he is forgiven as he is simultaneously being escorted out of office.
By SC Moderate August 22, 2009 at 6:44 am
Many of the articles relating to travelgate, have Sanford saying he went “out of his way” to save the state money, etc…
(At the risk of being a little over-analytical), This gives a clear insight into his entitled, rules-apply-to-me-differently mantra (or rules-are-for-the-inferior mantra). It would be like a person saying they “go out of their way” to be try to be a good parent. Its a governor’s job (and law) to do these things… not an option you can go out of your way to accommodate.
Such a mindset can be seen in almost every aspect of Sanford‘s destructive decisions.
And maybe he does thing trying to be a good parent is optional, After all, he said in his love-emails that he was fully aware of the potential fallout, and that was a risk he was willing to take!
IT is way past time to remind Sanford he is forgiven as he is simultaneously being escorted out of office.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
By Pete August 22, 2009 at 8:26 am
Andre Bauer has logged hundreds of hours in the state plane, many on questionable trips. He has taken scores of trips on private planes. He has had independent groups pay for foreign travel.
No one cares. We get the government we deserve.
By Jeffy August 22, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Pete, the question isn’t did Andre fly anywhere….its whether he followed the rules. Sanford did not follow the rules. Of course Andre took trips…..they all do.
By Zack August 22, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Cathy Hazelwood, general counsel for the state Ethics Commission…. is in charge…… oh yeah, I feel better. She is master at knowing who runs the show and how to keep her bread buttered….. for details, just ask…..
By anonymous August 22, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Attorney speaks on Sanfraud’s Air Travel
http://www.wistv.com/global/category.asp?c=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=3851&topVideoCatNoB=67010&topVideoCatNoC=125643&topVideoCatNoD=87934&topVideoCatNoE=138849&clipId=4064884&topVideoCatNo=3851&autoStart=true
By truthbetold August 23, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Not only is sc govt embarressing, but look at the mockery the good ole boys have made of the family court system. Especially those few in Charleston Co.
By anonymous August 23, 2009 at 1:11 pm
RE: Mark Sanford, Attorney General, and SLED
Check out this letter. You will have to zoom in or enlarge on your computer:
http://www.citizensforethics.org/files/images/SC%20AG%20Letter%20to%20CREW_0.jpg
By MKinVA August 23, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Who is being billed for a private attorney to review this and give legal advice to the Governor? Does the state have to pay for this or is Sanford paying for it himself? Normally, the attorney general’s office represents the Governor in legal matters.