Despite S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s efforts to quash its release, the public could get a look at the preliminary findings of a State Ethics Commission investigation into his administration on Wednesday.
At the very least, South Carolinians should know Wednesday whether the Commission is moving forward with charges against the governor or dismissing the case against him.
Sanford’s administration came under intense scrutiny earlier this year when the governor took a secretive trip to Argentina to see his Latin lover, Maria Belen Chapur. After being caught lying about his whereabouts, Sanford later confessed to the affair.
Shortly thereafter, the governor refunded several thousand taxpayer dollars that went to fund a prior “economic development” mission to Argentina, a trip that now appears to have been set up solely for the purpose of facilitating a liaison between Sanford and Chapur.
Of course the Ethics Commission has been investigating a veritable host of offenses that became public knowledge following Sanford’s shocking confession.
S.C. Rep. Greg Delleney has already introduced an impeachment resolution against the governor, but House Speaker Bobby Harrell ruled the resolution out of order during a recent special session of the S.C. General Assembly.
Harrell – who initially resisted calls within his Caucus for the governor to resign – later leapfrogged his fellow Republicans and called on Sanford to step down.
Since then, however, he has resumed providing political protection for the governor.
“Unless the investigation contains new information about serious crimes or serious misconduct by the governor,” Harrell said Wednesday, “the information we have to date does not rise to a level to remove him from office.”
Commission members – all of whom are appointed by the governor (and several of whom have contributed to his campaign) – are meeting behind closed doors in Columbia Wednesday morning to review the findings of the Commission’s preliminary investigation.
Sources have provided FITS with vastly divergent accounts of what’s contained in the preliminary report, which earlier this month was the subject of a fierce legal battle before the S.C. Supreme Court.
Ultimately, the Court ruled that the Commission had the prerogative to release the report to state officials as it saw fit.
We’ll start to see how they handle that responsibility today …
By Jonny D November 18, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Hey Ethics Commission, Mmmm whatcha say…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBI3lc18k8Q
(BTW, this is a great Luv Guv “anti-theme song”)
By Liberty For Me November 18, 2009 at 2:28 pm
JEEEZ..am I the only one tired of hearing about this.If the politicians really cared about this state instead of their own face time and power we would easily be the richest state in the country.Impeach Greg Dellany for not putting the intrests of the state first.Let the governor serve the little time he has and stop wasting time and money!!
By follydude November 18, 2009 at 3:43 pm
i know that if i went AWOL for a week from my job and then came back to tearfully envoke Biblical priveledge and then cruise around my territory – not making hay, but making apologies – i wouldn’t be afforded the luxuries this man has.
By Judy November 18, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I agree .. AWOL means he should be gone… no one in America could get away with this .. let him return to his “soul mate” … intersting to see how long they last as “soul mates” once they are together day-to-day with her boys still at home.
By Richard November 18, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I think a full investigation of every legislative member should be done. It is time for each to prove they deserve to represent us and abide by the rules and laws they set.
As far as riding first class on trips. I want my governor riding first class. Stop treating the position as if it is another bag boy job. It is a prestigious position that deserves the security and comfort of the tireless and thankless job that it is.
Leaving the state unattended warrants a deep discussion, but not impeachment. Hell, burning through a multi millions of tax payer dollars every year by the legislature is a criminal offense.
His affair, while unfortunate for us to have witnessed is between he and his family.
But frankly, if this pandoras box continues to open I would like for it to open up all the way to include the entire legislature.
By Designated Driver November 21, 2009 at 9:19 am
Waiting for Markie to just fuck off