Legislators Decry Sanford Delays

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009

Legislators decry Sanford delays

Arguments laid out for court date

By Gina Smith - McClatchy Newspapers

COLUMBIA -- In court papers filed Friday, attorneys for the S.C. House of Representatives argued embattled Gov. Mark Sanford is attempting to set a dangerous precedent of delay tactics that future elected officials could use to avoid impeachment.

On Friday, House attorneys responded to Sanford's court filing made last week. Sanford is attempting to bar lawmakers and the public from viewing preliminary findings of a state Ethics Commission investigation into Sanford's use of private and state aircraft, his purchase of pricey plane tickets and his use of campaign funds.

Sanford's attorneys have argued the release of the preliminary findings will not contain Sanford's response to the allegations and could be used to undermine him politically and legally if given to lawmakers.The two sides are expected to hash it out Oct. 19 before the state Supreme Court.

Big picture, the commission's findings - effectively an indictment - may be used by the S.C. House to attempt to impeach the two-term governor. "Any official action by the House will be based on the findings of the Ethics Commission," Greg Foster, spokesman for House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said Friday. Sanford has been under fire since June after admitting to a secret five-day trip to Buenos Aires to visit his Argentine lover.

Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/1110118.html

sometimes you have to call in the big boys - hope they get this done

tell them you are TIRED of them Sanfording the process.

95% of the people in SC are sick of him. However, he thinks he is unjustly accused, and has vowed to use every means he can to stay in office.

This is just the beginning. His attorneys probably have the strategy lined up, and motions ready to be filed.

It's too bad they won't be the GOP ticket in 2012. It would have been awesome to have his mistress scandal break during a Presidential campaign.

No one cares about sex scandals any more.

to stay under.

There is no upside for him or the GOP, not that I want there to be.

their State, greed before Country and Planet.