Impeachment proceedings against S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford will take place this year – perhaps as soon as next month – unless the embattled chief executive resigns his office first, two prominent Republican legislative leaders told FITS Wednesday afternoon.
“This circus must end,” one of the lawmakers said. “And it will end.”
Sanford has adamantly resisted a growing chorus of calls from leaders in both political parties to step down. Earlier Wednesday, sixty members of the S.C. House Republican Caucus signed a letter calling on him to resign. Sanford brushed the request aside, as he has on multiple occasions over the last two months in response to similar entreaties.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, both leaders told FITS that impeachment was “imminent.” Pressed for a time frame, one said “late October” while the other said “early November.”
While that’s not exactly the same sheet of music, it’s pretty close.
“We’re not going to go into session in January with this cloud hanging over us,” one of the lawmakers said. “We’re going to take care of this problem soon so that our state can move on.”
Both lawmakers said that Wednesday’s letter from Republican House members was “a good barometer” of a possible (probable) upcoming impeachment vote, and that there are easily enough votes in the full House to reach the two-thirds majority needed to impeach.
“The governor couldn’t get a third of the House to vote with him under normal circumstances,” one of the lawmakers said. “I think he will be much harder-pressed now having subjected this state to months of humiliation.”
If Sanford is impeached, it is highly unlikely that he would survive a vote in the State Senate, where his allies can be counted on one hand. Should two-thirds of State Senators vote to convict Sanford on any of the impeachment charges, he would be removed from office.
Perhaps most troubling for the governor, however, is the likelihood that dozens of current and former staffers and security personnel might be called to testify at various stages of the impeachment process.
Sources tell FITS that Sanford’s gatekeeper, April Derr, is high on their radar, as are current and former employees who traveled with the governor or managed his schedule.
By Benjamin Linus September 9, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Finally South Carolina will be liberated from the scourge that is Sanfraud!!!
By MKinVA September 9, 2009 at 8:37 pm
The Speaker needs to announce a call to special session for a date certain and tell Sanford (and South Carolinia) that if he doesn’t resign by X date, the House will proceed with its impeachment. Stop pussy footing around. Hold the impeachment and if the evidence isn’t there, move on. If it is there, sent a true bill to the Senate.
By Whit Suber September 9, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Yikes! What a ridiculous chicken fight. No doubt, Mark is to blame and this will be another stain on his legacy — which is already about as stained as the bedsheets at the TownHouse after the Legislative session — or any bed within Sanford’s walking distance after spending an evening on a windswept dancefloor. That said, make no mistake; the new bar for impeachment in SC is being disliked and acting stupid. Anyone who believes that future SC Legslature will not be temped to act upon this low-bar standard in future cases lass deserving than Sanford’s are fooling themselves.
Mark should save us this burden; seems doubtful that he will. The Legislature certain will not use restraint.
By Barney Fife September 9, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Go to Columbia and impeach the Governor this year and get beat next year. Waste more money and get beat. He needs to go, but not at the expense of you spending more tax payer dollars in this economy.
Ye without sin, cast the first stone. Who will be outed next? Who will the Governor and his war chest go after next? Be careful what you ask for. Private Citizen, former “impeached” Governor Sanford will come after you with a vengence.
By ohara September 9, 2009 at 9:33 pm
“That said, make no mistake; the new bar for impeachment in SC is being disliked and acting stupid. Anyone who believes that future SC Legslature will not be temped to act upon this low-bar standard in future cases lass deserving than Sanford’s are fooling themselves.”
Respectfully disagree, Whit. The bar for impeachment is not being set to a low standard.
This isn’t a morality test-this is about an individual who abandoned to state for 5 days and left the country with no way to contact him.
Dereliction of duty is the charge here. Sanford’s behavior and cognitive processes show a lack judgment & competence. The temper tantrums, the staged events, press conferences in fields outside of Thomas’ office, the quotes about God & scripture and his own ramblings about 007 secret missions are bizarre. The state will go nowhere in economic development or expansion with major corporations while Sanford is in charge. No CEO in his right mind will even attempt to bring industry into a state that has the problems SC faces plus an unstable governor.
By newzjunkie September 9, 2009 at 9:42 pm
OK. Explain to me, how impeachment gets him out of office? All it is the legislature accuses him of a wrong doing. He can still remain in office. The Legislature must REMOVE him from office or demand he resigns. Impeachment hearings just sends him to trial in the Senate.
Case in point – Clinton was impeached in the House, but remained in office because the votes were not in the Senate.
By Not a Spurrier Fan September 9, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Barney has a good point, who pays for this grandstanding? Naturally, we do…….
By w-s September 9, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Can’t we have a two-fer? As if it’s not humiliating enough to have a luv guv, we have to suffer the slur slinging of Rep. Wilson, R-SC.
By Cole Blease September 9, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Why doesn’t Mark Sanford just resign and go home? He was on track to be the best governor since me, but he had to mess it up. I hate that he is dragging down the gubernatorial campaign of that HOT chick from Lexington County with the funny sounding maiden name.
By Libb September 9, 2009 at 10:35 pm
This Impeachment Legislation Saga is starting to follow the same ole death march script of other controversial legislation: the House FINALLY blusters about vowing to get something done. The Senate sits quietly in the background while their junior counterparts make a good public display of bringing controversial legislation to a vote– all the while knowing that once said legislation (impeachment in this case) arrives in their hallow, ruled by McConnell chambers it will be a DEAD DUCK!!!
For the sake of any remaining integrity this state has left, I hope I am wrong. But I just don’t see an impeachment vote in the Senate. McConnell has no intentions of losing his throne.
By 1 + 1 = 3 September 9, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Mark Sanford will take SC down with him – just like he did his wife and four sons
By GoGoSpeed September 9, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Just another S.C. Douche Bag!
You can add Joe Wilson as another Douche Bag!
You can hold your heads down again,…… South Carolinians
By Toyota Kawaski September 10, 2009 at 8:13 am
BYE BYE darling Niki we will bury you for not signing.BTW nice hack job by your rank armature web boy he will be in for a surprise also.
By ohara September 10, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Impeach him.
That SOB just threatened to sue the State of SC if the Ethics Commission releases it’s preliminary report to the legislature. Desperate, desperate.
And there must be some REALLY good stuff in there, Sanford, if you are soooo worried about it getting out into an impeachment trial.
The Legislature doesn’t need it. They have subpoena power & can call their own witnesses.
They have enough to impeach him for Dereliction of Duty and it will stand. Leaving the state for 5 days without letting anyone know where he was is enough.
Whatever the Ethics Commission comes up with will not reverse the impeachment. It will not matter if they say he is Jesus reincarnated (which Sanford already claims every other Tuesday). The impeachment trial and results will stand.