SC House speaker: Governor’s rendezvous not serious enough to bring impeachment proceedings

SC lawmaker: Affair not enough to impeach governor

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A top South Carolina lawmaker says the embattled governor should not face impeachment simply because he left to see his Argentine lover over the summer.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell said Tuesday he thinks a newly filed measure to remove the governor based on his alleged dereliction of duty is misguided.

Instead, Harrell believes state representatives should rely on an Ethics Commission investigation of Sanford’s travel to see whether there are allegations of serious crimes or misconduct that warrant his removal.

The commission is to decide Wednesday whether it believes Sanford should face criminal or civil charges, or no sanctions at all.

Harrell’s statement came the same day a fellow Republican filed a measure to impeach Sanford because he left the state.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina lawmakers have formally received a resolution to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford because of his June rendezvous with an Argentine lover.

The House on Tuesday formally accepted the bill filed by Rep. Greg Delleney of Chester. The full House probably won’t start working on it until members return for their regular session in January, though the Judiciary Committee could take it up before then.

Delleney says he wants his fellow Republican punished for what he considers dereliction of duty and bringing shame on the state when Sanford disappeared for five days in June.

Meanwhile, the House is asking the state Supreme Court to make it clear that an Ethics Commission investigation of Sanford’s travel practices should be made public, which could happen as early as this week.