Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

Sanford hit with charges

COLUMBIA -- The S.C. Ethics Commission has charged Gov. Mark Sanford with breaking state ethics laws 37 times, including using state planes for personal trips that included family trips and trips to the Grand Strand, spending campaign funds on a hunting trip and flying first class, instead of coach, while on state travel.

The commission, which last week wrapped up its preliminary, three-month-long investigation into allegations against the embattled governor, released the charges to the public Monday.

Included among them were charges related to four flights between 2006 and 2008 to the Grand Strand, including for the opening of the Hard Rock Park entertainment complex,

The commission's findings have been eagerly awaited by legislators, who are deciding whether to oust Sanford from office before his term ends in January 2011.

A subcommittee of the S.C. House will consider an impeachment resolution for the first time today.

The Ethics Commission charges allege:

Sanford flew business or first class 18 times between 2005 and 2009 while on state business. Those trips included travel to Europe, Asia and South America. State law requires officials to choose the most economical fare unless there is an urgent reason to do otherwise.

Sanford used state aircraft for personal travel nine times between 2005 and 2008, including a book signing, a birthday party for a contributor, a son's sporting event, and a family getaway to Georgia.

On 10 occasions, Sanford took money from his campaign account, donated by supporters, and improperly spent it on personal uses, including an Irish hunting trip and a GOP governors meeting in Miami. The money in question, a total of $2,940.68, was spent between 2006 and 2009.

Sanford was cleared by the commission for failing to report private plane trips given to him by friends and political allies. Sanford's attorney told the commission the governor will disclose all of the trips.

The charges against Sanford will be aired at a hearing of a three-member Ethics Commission panel, to be held sometime in January.

During that hearing, Sanford's attorneys will mount his defense.

The governor's lawyers have characterized the accusations as technical and minor.

Sanford's attorney, Butch Bowers, said Monday: "We are confident that we will be able to address each of these questions, none of which constitutes findings of guilt and none of which we believe rise anywhere near to the traditional standard of impeachment. We look forward to working with the commission and resolving this matter."

Ultimately, the commissioners - appointed by Sanford but confirmed by the state Senate - will vote on whether Sanford is guilty of the ethics violations. Sanford could be cleared or fined up to $74,000.

Sanford also could face criminal charges.

A spokesman said Monday that S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster is reviewing the Ethics Commission report to determine whether charges are warranted.

The governor faces trouble on another front as well.

Today, a subcommittee of House lawmakers will hold their first meeting to discuss impeaching the governor.

Four House members introduced a bill last week to oust the governor from office, saying he abandoned the state for five days in June to secretly visit his lover in Argentina.

Abandoning his duties is grounds for impeachment, no matter the ethics charges, state Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, said Monday.

"What matters to me," Delleney said, "is his absence from the state without giving anyone notice and being AWOL for five days, leaving no established chain of command or protocol for the exercise of the executive authority of the state and his preconceived deceit and cover-up of his whereabouts, using his staff, who are state employees, to mislead public officials of South Carolina and the public of South Carolina."

Sanford has brushed off calls to resign from GOP House members and senators, who control the legislature, saying he has not broken any laws and has been a good steward of taxpayer money.

Four of the flights cited by the Ethics Commission involved a 2008 state Commerce Department trip to Brazil.

Sanford, a married, two-term governor, asked that the economic development trip be extended to include Argentina, where he saw his lover.

The governor has reimbursed the state $3,300 for the Argentina part of the trip. He has said he spent no other tax money to see his lover.

The governor's defenders also have said previous governors flew first-class on the state's dime. However, the commission says two of those governors used private money to pay for more expensive tickets.

The commission also cited a number of flights on state planes as personal, violating state law, including:

A 2006 flight from North Myrtle Beach to Columbia, after which Sanford got a haircut

A 2007 flight from North Myrtle Beach to Columbia for Sanford to attend a son's sporting event

A 2008 flight to Myrtle Beach - with his wife and son - for the opening of Hard Rock Park