Columbia, SC (WLTX) - In advance of a House Judciary Committee panel's work Tuesday on a an impeachment resolution, Governor Mark Sanford has released a massive Ethics Commission report into his travel.
Sanford made the document public just before midnight Monday. Earlier in the day, Sanford's lawyers handed over the report to South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell. Related link: Read the Full Ethics Commission Report
The report is different than a document released earlier Monday that was posted here on WLTX.com and in other media sources. That 'notice of hearing' report was approximately 17 pages long and quickly highlighted the 37 counts of possible ethics commission violations against Sanford. Related link: State Ethics Commission's notice of Hearing Against Mark Sanford
The one released just before midnight is over 1,300 pages long, and includes the copies of the actual travel records used to compile the notice of hearing. It includes how records were filed, and in some cases, the cost of the trips.
The 37 counts against the governor, which he'll face during a hearing by the Ethics Commission next year, include the following:
- 18 times in which Sanford is accused of buying or approving the upgrading of coach tickets to first or business class. State law requires that state officials take the lowest cost travel during trips;
- 9 times of improperly using state aircraft for personal or political travel that was not official state business;
- 10 times that he improperly reimbursed himself with campaign cash.
Sanford, however, has maintained that the upgrading of tickets was part of a long-standing policy by the Department of Commerce during business trips for state officials.
Sanford's lawyers have referred to the sum of the findings so far by the Ethics Commission as minor. In all, Sanford could face about $74,000 in fines if convicted of the ethics charges. Related Story: Mark Sanford Could Faces Fines of $74,000
Meanwhile, the House Judciary Committee panel meets Tuesday afternoon to take up an impeachment resolution pre-filed at the State House last week. They will be reviewing the Ethics report, and have the option to pass the resolution on to the full Judicary Committee. That could set up a possible impeachment hearing during the 2010 Legislative Session.
"We look forward to working with the House as we move forward with this process, and we believe that once all the facts have been considered, it will once again confirm that Governor Sanford and his administration have been good stewards for the taxpayers of South Carolina," said Sanford attorney Butch Bowers in a written statement.
11/24/2009 9:14:31 AM
