Columbia, SC (WLTX) - An attorney for South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford says their side feels 'vindicated' by an ethics commission finding Wednesday, and that the charges are 'minor.'
The State Ethics Commission said they had found 'probable cause' of possible ethics violations, and that Sanford should have to face a hearing next year on those allegations. Their decision came after almost six hours of deliberation behind closed doors. Related Coverage: Probable Cause Found in Mark Sanford Ethics Probe
"We feel vindicated that the Ethics Commission's finding of probable cause is limited to minor, technical matters that do not include any allegations of criminal conduct," said Sanford attorney Butch Bowers in a written statement.
The commission said 'several' potential violations had been found, but did not specify what they were. Ethics Commission Director Herbert Hayden said a notice will be given to the governor next week which will outline what those violations were.
Hayden also reminded the public that the findings are not a finding of guilty, but represents the next phase in the process.
An Associated Press investigation into Sanford's travel appeared to find instances when he used the state planes for personal use, and failed to report his activities on others. Sanford, however, maintains his critics are cherry-picking a few flights of the hundreds he's taken as governor, and that he's done nothing wrong.
"We look forward to our opportunity to finally present our side of the case to the Commission and get this matter resolved," Bowers said. "We have fully cooperated with the Ethics Commission thus far, and we will continue to do so throughout this process. As we have always maintained, Governor Sanford supports the public release of the full and complete ethics report. We believe that once all of the facts have been considered, it will once again confirm that this administration has been a good steward of tax dollars and public resources."
The Ethics Commission's findings come one day after a resolution was pre-filed in the South Carolina House of Representatives calling for impeachment for Sanford. That measure will now move to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration, and could come up during the 2010 Legislative Session. Related Coverage: Mark Sanford Impeachment Resolution Filed at the State House
Those hearings would likely use the ethics commission's report as a key part of any potential proceedings.
11/19/2009 5:45:20 AM
