COLUMBIA, S.C. (WLTX, AP ) -- A South Carolina ethics official says Gov. Mark Sanford wants to report previously unrecorded flights he took on planes owned by friends and donors.
State Ethics Commission executive director Herb Hayden said Thursday the governor has asked the agency to amend ethics reports to include information on his private plane trips. Previous Coverage: Mark Sanford Attorney: Ethics Charges are Minor
Sanford's lawyers didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
In August, an Associated Press investigation showed Sanford took private plane trips and did not report the flights on ethics disclosure forms.
Word of the governor's request comes a day after the commission said it is charging the governor with unspecified ethics violations. A hearing on those charges is to take place early next year.
Meanwhile, Sanford attorney Butch Bowers issued a new statement on the Ethics Commission report, which they feel vindicates the governor's record.
"The Ethics Commission reviewed 772 flights taken by Governor Sanford, and no questions were raised regarding 97% of these flights," Bowers said in a statement. "Similarly, the Commission examined 622 of the Governor's campaign expenditures, and 98% of them were found to be in complete compliance with the law....In the meantime, in a good faith effort to move forward, Governor Sanford has decided to provide a copy of the Commission's investigative report to Speaker Harrell next week following the Commission's release of its notice of hearing."
House Speaker Bobby Harrell, however, isn't pleased that the report isn't available now.
"This is a public document as of yesterday when the Commission gave it to the Governor," said Harrell spokesman Greg Foster in a written statement. "It should have been made available to all South Carolinians then, not next week."
11/19/2009 4:32:46 PM
