Politics Digest: South Carolina lawmakers vote not to impeach Governor Mark Sanford

SOUTH CAROLINA

Sanford avoids impeachment

South Carolina lawmakers investigating Gov. Mark Sanford voted Wednesday not to impeach the embattled Republican for his use of state-sponsored travel and for abandoning his official duties this summer when he secretly visited his mistress in Argentina.

A seven-member panel instead voted unanimously to formally censure Sanford for his behavior, passing a resolution saying that the governor was derelict in his duty and brought "ridicule, dishonor, disgrace and shame" to the state.

The House judiciary subcommittee's 6-to-1 vote against impeachment all but erases the possibility that Sanford can be forced from office before he finishes his second term in January 2011.

Sanford has been under fire since June, when he returned from a mysterious five-day absence and tearfully admitted an extramarital affair. He was in Argentina visiting his mistress, but led his befuddled staff to tell reporters that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

The full House Judiciary Committee will vote on the impeachment resolution next week, but House Speaker Bobby Harrell (R) said it is unlikely to overturn the decision.

"His actions were embarrassing and disgraceful for our state, but didn't rise to the level of being removed from office," Harrell said.

State Rep. Greg Delleney (R), the lone member who voted to impeach Sanford, told reporters that the governor "has lost all moral authority to lead this state."

But Rep. James Harrison (R), who heads the subcommittee, told the Associated Press: "We can't impeach for hypocrisy. We can't impeach for arrogance. We can't impeach an officeholder for his lack of leadership skills."

Still, Sanford will not escape scrutiny. The State Ethics Commission is considering 37 charges against him involving his campaign fundraising and his travel following an Associated Press investigation that found he used state planes for personal and political trips.

Sanford issued a statement Wednesday saying that, despite his "moral failing," allegations that he misused state money are "just not correct. . . . If there had been any oversight, it was minor and technical in nature."

Since June, a majority of state lawmakers from both parties have called on Sanford to resign, but he has pledged to serve out his term. The politics of removing him have been complicated by the intense battle to succeed him, with some legislative leaders resisting his departure because it would elevate one candidate, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R), to the governor's office and give him a leg up in the 2011 election.