That’s A Lot Of Ethics Charges …
S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford faces over three dozen state ethics charges stemming from violations of travel rules and campaign finance laws, Jim Davenport of the Associated Press reported Monday.
The violations – thirty-seven of them in all – are contained in a preliminary report prepared by S.C. State Ethics Commission investigators, who spent three months looking into a variety of alleged abuses committed by the governor. Sanford’s administration has come under expanded scrutiny following his “Summer of Love” with Latin mistress Maria Belen Chapur.
From the AP brief:
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces 37 ethics charges he broke state laws limiting official use of airplanes and involving campaign money.
The details were released Monday by the State Ethics Commission. They came five days after the panel charged the governor without offering any specifics.
Sanford’s lawyers have claimed the charges involve minor and technical aspects of the law.
The charges followed a probe into whether Sanford used state aircraft for personal and political trips, used pricey airline seats despite low-cost travel requirements and reimbursed himself with campaign cash.
And here’s the complete version of Davenport’s story.
FITS attempted to reach Sanford’s office for comment, but our first call was screened and our second call, placed by Ashley Hester, resulted in Sanford communications advisor Barton Swaim hanging up on us.
Viva transparency!
Comments
By Liberty For Me on November 23rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Well….another case of politicians believeing themselves to be aristocracy. I believe 37 x $2000 would be a pretty steep punishment.But I dont see any of this being impeachable.
By Scott on November 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Sanford’s office hung up on you? WOW! Talk about being thin-skinned…
By Judy on November 23rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
the impeachable part should still be that he “left his post w/o telling anyone” while is was off committing adultery… anyone from any other part of the US we live in he would be let go let alone a governor over a state… UNBELIEVABLE.
By Jonny D on November 23rd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
It’s alot of chickenshit is what it is. But Liberty For Me, just to settle for “nuisance” value, I would suggest 37 x $500 and we’ll call it a day…
By Skidmarks on November 23rd, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Tax fraud should certainly be impeachable. But everybody else does it….
By Pamela on November 23rd, 2009 at 4:40 pm
mark resign already, save US ( your employer & OUR STATE) the much needed money
By Designated Driver on November 23rd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I don’t know about San the Man, but I never pay more than 20 for my blowjobs and I never get charged for anything either.
But I wouldn’t pay BIN. I bet she’s not good at all!
By CNSYD on November 23rd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
The defense is obvious. Step 1: charges are minor and technical. Step 2: Cubby has reviewed them and they don’t apply to Markie Mark. Step 3: Doug Coe is consulted who issues an edict that none of these so called ethics rules apply to Family members especially those appointed by God to be a modern day King David. Therefore it is all a tempest in a teapot and those dumb ass heathen in SC need to get out of Markie Mark’s way and let get back to his God ordained task.
By Todd on November 23rd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Designated Driver: Do you work for Queen Jean? (One of her ODC lawyers didn’t want to pay for his bj at all – that Toal judiciary sense of entitlement, you know – in September, 2006 and got arrested by a SLED agent) or are with with Henry Mac’s office? Just hanging out in cemeterys.
By George Jefferson on November 23rd, 2009 at 6:21 pm
All hale Mark Sanfraud the king of south carolina, as he will have all new brides first on their wedding night for he proclaims it so. He is the chosen one and all shall bow before he. Fuck him and his first bitch wrinkled up skinny ass wife. GTFO out of my state crooks!!!
By Todd on November 23rd, 2009 at 7:08 pm
George, dude. He’s just a powerless, dumb ass governor. She’s just an unpaid volunteer with four sons to raise and no help from him. Chill. Ask BIN who has given him those pills that has finally calmed him down a bit.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on November 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pm
So, sic(k) willie is finally off of sanfraud’s speed dial list. No more “insider trading” for sic(k) willie. Now it’s a fair and open market.
By Rylyn on November 23rd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
The comments on this website have come to the point where they are obscene and just a bunch of blow hards spouting off obsenity. What happened to real comments with real meaning.
If you want to check ethics violations I’m sure there are quite a few out there outside of Sanford’s office. (Have you checked your Senators lately” Sanford has made mistakes…get over it and move on. Is the State of South Carolina so shallow that this is all you can get. No one cares anymore about the “Sins of Sanford”
By James T Kirk on November 23rd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Mark Sanfraud, alas souless man who abandoned his kids all for a piece of ass.
By AMAZING on November 23rd, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Who is the dumbest most stupidest person who you have ever met?
Uh…..uh….wait, let me finish!
wait, uh…uh…uh…Sanfraud…wait, let me finish…
By AMAZING on November 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Thirty-freakin’-seven….uh…uh…37
wait, let me finish…uh…uh…uh…that’s thirty-seven…
uh…uh….uh…wait, let me finish….
By Mike Honcho on November 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
You’re really pulling in the quality readers Will.
Humorously, the transparency zealots can’t find out enough about the one ethics case they know about.
But could not be bothered to look into any of the others.
By CNSYD on November 23rd, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Rylyn, when Sanfraud exits then and only then will we care no more. He is an arrogant ass who is refusing to go.
By CNSYD on November 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Todd, are you crazy? He is a dumb ass, I will agree. But he needs to go as the majority of the state is tired of looking at him and listening to him. As for Lady MacBeth, you make it sound like she is on food stamps and medicaid. What a joke. She only needed him on 4 occasions.
By Quad on November 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Sanford had NOTHING to do with Boeing, but he did manage to show up for the photo ops. Sanford was “mining” Argentina for possible trade deals that were prohibited by the FEDS since Argentina defaulted on loans to US & stuck US farmers with millions in unpaid $$.
This moron needs to go now. Impeach him. He was stealing money from the state while he demanded absolute frugality for everyone else. It was a scam. He’s a fraud.
His Ethics Commission Report reads:
COUNT ONE
USE OF PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PERSONAL FINANCIAL GAIN
SECTION 8-13-700(A, SC CODE ANN, 1976 AS AMENDED
and it goes on with 36 MORE charges of ethics & code violations where San-fraud USED THE OFFICE of GOV for personal & financial GAIN.
Would YOU still have a job if you did this to YOUR employer? Heck no, you’d be in jail!
He owes $74,000 in penalties for violations, and that doesn’t include the rest of the $$ he owes for the trip to South America, since that was another scam.
IMPEACH SANFORD NOW!
By birdman on November 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 pm
SANFRAUD IS AN EVIL BASTARD, AND IS LIKE A WOUNDED ANIMAL RIGHT NOW. HE AND BUTCHIE WILL DESTROY ANYONE WHO GETS IN THEIR WAY, I KNOW HE DESTRYOED MY CAREER. XXXXOOOX
By by nice guy on November 24th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I read that the attorney general has to decide whether to bring criminal charges or not. The real question is who is going to bring criminal charges against him, he just violated both state and federal laws by posting arrest warrants that have social security #s on them. They say some of those guys have alot of money. Just how stupid can you be and he wants to be our next governor.
By Jack MeOff on November 24th, 2009 at 1:27 am
Tommy did not know GaGa back then… Here is the key, where is the oversight? You can take your transparency and shove it, give me processes and procedures that prevent it maybe Dick and Chellis can explain this to us like we are stupid…
By Cancerman on November 24th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Here is a real comment for you, “FUCK YOU AND MARK SANFRAUD”!!!
By Liberty For Me on November 24th, 2009 at 7:13 am
CNSYD….I think your emotions are talking…
Do you know who replaces him???and ???????That is going to be better??
I would rather save the drama and money and wait the short time for election.Why does that not make sense?…
By AMAZING on November 24th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Statement From Tom Davis re: Sanford and SLED Investigation
FOR RELEASE ON JULY 3, 2009
Statement by Tom Davis re: Governor Mark Sanford
…”We cannot control the unfortunate circumstances that got us to this place, but we can and must control how we now move past them.”
…”As a state senator with responsibilities to my constituents, I met yesterday with SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd and Attorney General Henry McMaster to determine whether Gov. Sanford had violated any statutory or constitutional obligations. Both have assured me that Gov. Sanford did not break any laws and that he did not spend public dollars in this process.”
“Accordingly, unless any new facts are disclosed, I think it is time for me and other public officials to get back to work on the serious challenges facing our state.”
“That said, and as Gov. Sanford knows, he has no margin for further error in this particular matter. South Carolina simply cannot afford any additional embarrassment.”
http://senatortomdavis.com/news/statement-from-tom-davis-re-sanford-and-sled-investigation/
Where is Tom Davis now?
By AMAZING on November 24th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Read the state Ethics Commission report
All 1388 pages
http://governorsanford.com/00000a.pdf
By Don't know what you are talking about on November 24th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Amazing:
The sheer number of violations, misuse of campaign funds, etc, regardless of amounts, is very troublesome. There is a strong pattern of illegal acts, not to mention being AWOL from the state. As a member of the USAF Reserves, Sanford knows all about the chain of command and also about the consequences of being AWOL from your assigned duties. Tom Davis needs to call Sanford and ask for him to resign. If not, Davis’ future, already shakey, is finished for sure. Reggie Lloyd flat out lied to the public and he needs to go today.
It is not the size of the act, it is whether the act is legal or not. Someone at this level of government knows better. The pattern and number of viloations just goes to should that Sanford beleives he is above the law. It is time for him to resign or face the music. While certain legislators may not have the stomach for it, they better get on the train for impeachment because voters throughout the state are pissed that Sanford did this and will be more pissed if their legisaltors do not do something, especially if they are republican legislators!
By Ynot on November 24th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Hey Birdman… Sanfraud destroyed my entire life so I hear you. `
I call what happened to me GANG STALKING and it all falls back to Sanfraud … but I got his number, you hear me.
By scooter on November 24th, 2009 at 9:57 am
We have to be the most brain dead people in the south. Why can’t we just demand that he resign. Short of that, as we know he thinks he is appointed by God for this job, we need to Impeach and finish that deal. I am sick and tired of his do-nothing daily schedule, and his thumbing his nose at us. If McMaster will not do something, if the Legislature will not do something, shame on all of them and vote against them. I dare any of them to do the right thing. Have a spine and values.
By west_rhino on November 24th, 2009 at 10:17 am
The resoultion and enforcement of these charges look like a two edged sword and perhaps everyone’s use of the state plane needs to be outed as “publick” record… do I recall a nettlesome Wil pointing at other folks travel in posts gone by? Weren’t thsoe settled by the precedent of a slap on the wrist to perhaps a speaker or a senate committee chair? Ought those resolutions be vacated and stiffer penalties and sanctions be applied if things are handled more roughly against the incumbent Sanford?
Just askin’
By CNSYD on November 24th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Amazing, Davis is and has been in hiding ever since we found out that SC didn’t want his outsider butt around either.
LFM, Having lived in the 1st district while Sanfraud and his pompous self “slept on a cot in my office” I have wanted him gone for a long time. He was a liar then and he is a liar now. He and his handlers knew exactly what snake oil you can get SC voters to buy. Bauer may be a dumb ass and who knows what else but at least he is our dumb ass and not an import.
By AMAZING on November 24th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Ethics expert working for gov
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is getting help from a Connecticut lawyer who represented that state’s governor during a 2004 impeachment effort.
Sanford’s attorneys this week released documents that include arguments by lawyer Ross Garber, who contends the case against Sanford doesn’t meet the high standard for impeachment.
Garber is an ethics expert who represented the Connecticut governor’s office when then-Gov. John G. Rowland faced an impeachment inquiry. Rowland resigned, pleaded guilty to a corruption charge and went to prison.
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11564472
**************************************************
By Liberty For Me on November 24th, 2009 at 11:54 am
CNSYD….I don’t know Sanford personally.But at least he always talked like a Libertarian.I don’t know if he actually put it into action..as I have only lived here for two years.DeMint is another…But think arms length is how I feel about both of them.I have seen the others running for Governor and they are the same fake B.S. we always get in this country…Niki speaks Liberty but I know little else..What else can you go by but what they say??….
By AMAZING on November 24th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
SOUTH CAROLINA TAXPAYERS ARE FUNDING SANFRAUD’S LEGAL DEFENSE
Ross Garber, a partner in the firm of Shipman & Goodwin of Hartford, Conn. and the former chief counsel to two Connecticut governors, is the lead attorney in representing the South Carolina governor’s office, officials said.
Garber will be paid at the rate of $150 per hour, according to Fox, money that will come from the governor’s office.
Garber and others in his firm were among the authors of a 25-page paper recently sent to S.C. House Judiciary Committee members arguing why impeachment was not an appropriate response to Sanford’s actions.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20091124/NEWS01/91124006/-1/YOURUPSTATE02/Mark-Sanford-s-office-hires-impeachment-lawyer