Gov. Mark Sanford asks for chance to review probe of his travel spending
Gov. Mark Sanford’s attorney today asked the South Carolina Supreme Court to determine if the General Assembly could see a state Ethics Commission report before anyone else.
In September, attorney Butch Bowers warned a preliminary report of a state Ethics Commission probe could not legally go to the General Assembly. He says the legislature is not a prosecuting agency in the investigation, thus it has no legal right to the documents. Read official letter from attorney
Some legislators assert that the impeachment process, which could come after the report, makes them prosecutors. In essence, the report is a form of an indictment against the governor.
The letter from Sanford’s lawyer states,”In the interest of justice and to ensure the integrity and fairness of the process, we believe findings by the Commission should be released after its work is complete. The occurs when the proceedings are complete and the Governor has had his chance to fully and formally lay out his side of the story on any complaint against him.”
The investigation was called for by state Attorney General Henry McMaster after media reports called into question the governor’s travel spending for personal and family events.
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