SC House Panel Opens Impeachment Process
The S.C. House of Representatives formally opened hearings Tuesday into whether or not disgraced S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford should be impeached.
A House Judiciary subcommittee met for almost an hour on the subject, a mostly perfunctory hearing during which lawmakers sparred over whether Sanford’s five-day absence from the state in June – and subsequent misleading of state officials and the public as to his whereabouts – constituted “dereliction of duty.”
“It may constitute something, but it doesn’t constitute dereliction of duty,” Rep. Walt McLeod (D-Newberry) said. “The concept of absent without leave is a military term, it doesn’t apply to civilians.”
Rep. James Smith – the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee – disagreed.
“A commander-in-chief should be held to the same standard as a soldier in the field,” said Smith, who is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan.
The subcommittee did vote unanimously to broaden its inquiry and include the preliminary report of the S.C. State Ethics Commission, which became public earlier this week. That report found “probable cause” that Sanford committed thirty-seven violations of state ethics law, charges which Sanford’s attorneys have dismissed as “technical questions.”
State Rep. Greg Delleney – the author of the House impeachment resolution – made an impassioned case on behalf of his , noting how Sanford admittedly misled his staff – and by extension other state leaders and the public.
Delleney said Sanford’s conduct has brought “great shame and ridicule” on the Governor’s Office and the State of South Carolina.
That “shame and ridicule” continued Tuesday, as a new Washington Post column (actually entitled “Where’s Sanford’s shame?“) blasted the governor’s ongoing refusal to acknowledge his wrongdoing.
“I guess … the distinction between right and wrong, lawful and outrageous is lost on a man who thinks nothing of leaving his four sons over Fathers Day to travel to another time zone for a tryst with his mistress,” Post editorial writer Jo-Ann Armao wrote. “And I guess that someone who thinks the public is so stupid that it will buy a phony story about hiking the Appalachian Trail will be clueless enough not to recognize real wrongdoing.”
“Too bad the citizens of South Carolina can’t do what Jenny Sanford did: just pack up and leave,” Armao added.
Nonetheless, the one “swing vote” on the committee – Rep. Jenny Horne (RINO-Dorchester) – began to stake out her rationale for opposing the resolution.
“There wasn’t an emergency” during the time Sanford disappeared, Horne said, thus rendering Sanford’s absence moot from a Constitutional standpoint.
The subcommittee scheduled at least three additional hearings over the next two weeks to review affidavits and receive testimony.
Delleney said he wasn’t sure what to expect from the hearings.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” he told FITS.
Comments
By Stimulus on November 24th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
“Too bad the citizens of South Carolina can’t do what Jenny Sanford did: just pack up and leave,” Armao added.
i have not seen any guards at the state borders…
By Kingrichard on November 24th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Gregg Delleney is my new Hero!!! It’s a shame they have stacked the deck against him. I wish him well.
By Gillon on November 24th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Stimulus: What a strange comment. This state belongs to its people, and for too long they have had to endure the humiliation brought upon their state by an adulterous, self-absorbed, selfish, hypocritical carpetbagger from Florida. Mark Sanford is the one who should be leaving, not the good people who have tried to make SC a decent place to live in spite of people like him.
By Ynot on November 24th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
CHICKENS
they ought to do what is RIGHT for the people of the state.
By Mohanna on November 24th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Sanfraud seems to want what I call “Incremental Moral Defense”. He has assigned a numeric value to his morals and his defense is he stole less than prior Governors so his were lesser crimes. The sheer stupidity of this claim, is only surpassed by his stupidty in not stealing more. Kick his Dumb Ass out!
By 2 cents on November 24th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Someone needs to MAKE him leave, without it costing one dime. These politiocs can find loopholes for everything else, find one for this.
By Anne on November 24th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Rep. Jenny Horne’s rationale for opposing the resolution is ridiculous! She says, since an emergency did not occur during the time Sanford disappeared, his absence is moot from a Constitutional standpoint. So, if the Emergency Department doctor decides to leave for a tryst with his girlfriend, and fortunately no patient comes to the emergency department during that time, there was no misconduct by the doctor and no action should be taken!?! Apply that ridiculous rationale to any position of responsibility — it is completely unacceptable. SC has major earthquake faults running through it; disasters such as nuclear reactor accidents, major factory explosions, wildfires, terrorist activity, etc. can happen at anytime. If the man does not want or cannot handle the responsibility of being governor, he should resign. If he refuses to resign, he should be impeached and convicted. I could not be more disappointed in Rep. Horne and Rep. McLeod. Both are attorneys, and both should understand the severe breach of duty which occurred here, and their responsibilities to hold the governor accountable and require that the office of governor be respected, as the people of SC demand.
By Art on November 24th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
OK ! Let is leave Mark Sanford alone. He is not going anywhere. Also, leave Richard Ecstrom alone also.
By MKinVA on November 24th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Most of what the subcommittee is looking into is a smoke screen. The real crime was committed in June 2008 when the Governor used state employees and state resources to conjure up an “economic development” trip to Argentina where his lover just happened to be waiting. The rest of it is small potatoes compared to fraud, misuse of state employees and resources, misappropriation of public money for personal use, etc.
By BOYSMOM on November 24th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Kick the governor out, NOW!!!!! Many of the state reps. must be afraid of their shadows. Stand up and be counted for the best of the state.
By Lester on November 24th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Shame on Bobby. He is letting Sanford twist his arm into making this thing go away. I can’t wait until it comes out what exactly Sanford has on Harrell or his family.
By Frequent Flyer on November 24th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Anne, Anne, Anne…you are using logic regarding Jenny Horne and Grandpa Munster um uh Walt McLeod’s view of all this Sanford stuff. That is just never gonna do.
By Jimmie Godges on November 24th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
The constitution clearly states if the governor cant be reached while he is getting some pussy, then the Lt. Governor is in charge. Butch I need my wet nap my lisp is worst than normal and I have a little dribble.
By HE-MAN on November 24th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
http://i50.tinypic.com/semy5t.jpg
By by annie on November 24th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Anne- I couldn’t have expressed my view as do many, many others better than you did – Mark Sanford has disgraced his state, dishonored his wonderful family and does not deserve to be governor for one more day!! Why can’t our elected representatives use your logic?
By stimulus on November 25th, 2009 at 9:07 am
By Gillon on November 24th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Stimulus: What a strange comment. This state belongs to its people, and for too long they have had to endure the humiliation brought upon their state by an adulterous, self-absorbed, selfish, hypocritical carpetbagger from Florida. Mark Sanford is the one who should be leaving, not the good people who have tried to make SC a decent place to live in spite of people like him.
do you have any reading comprehension skills?
By Liberty For Me on November 25th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Much ado about nothing…so ridiculous and expensive.
Maybe next week we can have hearings on steroids.
By ohara on November 25th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Can’t wait to see what Felonious Sanford comes up with as a defense for his state-funded Argentinean rendezvous. Wonder if he’ll use his 007 excuse? on a secret mission from God?
By BARRISTER on November 25th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Will,
Why do you call Jenny Horne a Rhino? She has a very conservative voting record.
By John Fleming on November 25th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Horne is Annette and Bobby’s bitch. They like having the Gov around, since he is a do nothing guy that can’t beat them up anymore
By quincy on November 26th, 2009 at 12:03 am
What has the country come to? A close examination of the Bible will help clear this whole thing up right now. Romans 13 says in part:
(quote) 1 ‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For, for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.’ (End quote)
This should make it clear that Sanford has been put in a position of power and that it would be wrong to remove him from his post. His wife needs to read what the Bible says about her separation from him as well.
Ephesians 5:22 says (quote): ‘Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.’ (end quote)
South Carolina has been blessed with a man who kept the State safe. During the dark days of late 2001 and 2002, a man who heeded the call of duty came forth to protect and defend the lives and ways of the South Carolinian people. The South Carolinians voted out any Democrat due to that party’s flagrant immorality. South Carolina has been a safe place to live under the leadership of Sanford. He has also repented of his wrongdoing, if it was wrong. He had no obligation to apologize to anyone for anything because he was put in place as a leader. Followers are his people and they need to know their place. Who are they to demand anything of their masters? In any case, the people of South Carolina should be proud to have a great man who would humble himself after having made a mistake. It is reminiscent of another great man who had a somewhat shaky past who says he got religion and became the greatest leader the United States of America ever had. He recently had to leave his post due to limitations of how long one can serve as Supreme Commander of the greatest country in the world. In the near future, Sanford might be as great a leader.
By shiya on November 29th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
FINALLY, one paper is articulating what so many of us wondered about: why is there no investigation of the 2008 Argentine trip which was the most blatant misuse of taxpayer money.
http://www.thesunnews.com/opinion/story/1187970.html