Monday, Nov. 23, 2009

Hearing on the resolution to impeach Sanford is Tuesday

A S.C. House panel will hold a hearing Tuesday at 1 p.m. on the resolution to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford, which was introduced last week.

The Judiciary subcommittee will meet in Room 101 of the Blatt Building. The meeting is open to the public.

The resolution seeks to remove the two-term Republican governor, who cannot run for re-election again, for disappearing from the state for five days in June. The married governor subsequently said he had been in Argentina visiting his lover.

The subcommittee hopes to conclude its work by Christmas. Its recommendation then would go to the full House Judiciary Committee. If that committee votes to impeach Sanford, the resolution would go to the full House. If the full House passes the resolution, it would go to the S.C. Senate, which would try Sanford. If convicted, he would be removed from office.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, has said he does not believe there are sufficient grounds — known now — to remove Sanford.

However, the state Ethics Commission has voted to hear charges against Sanford for three dozen possible ethics violations, involving his use of state aircraft, state-paid transportation and campaign funds. A hearing on those charges is expected early next year.

The Ethics Commission’s specific charges against Sanford — as well as the commission’s preliminary report into its investigation into allegations against the one-time presidential hopeful — are expected to be released this week, possibly as early as today.

Get The State newspaper delivered to your home. Click here to subscribe.