10 Republican SC senators call for gov's ouster | AP News | Summerville Journal Scene

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10 Republican SC senators call for gov's ouster

Published Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:33 AM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — One of Gov. Mark Sanford's major Republican Senate allies and the chamber's majority leader on Tuesday joined calls for the governor to step down after Sanford revealed more details about his extramarital affair and admitted to dalliances with other women.

In a lengthy and emotional interview with The Associated Press in his Statehouse office, Sanford described five meetings with Argentine woman Maria Belen Chapur over the past year, including two romantic, multi-night stays with her in New York before they met there again intending to break up. In all, the Republican described seven meetings with the woman, more than he had admitted to previously, including their first in 2001.

"He's lost the moral authority to lead our state so he needs to step down for the good of our state," said Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, who said he called Sanford and asked for his resignation. Grooms has voted frequently in favor Sanford's ideas.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, also said Sanford should resign.

"There's just no way he'll be able to continue as governor," said Peeler. "I'm really concerned about his mental well being. ... He changes his story, it seems like hourly. That's not a man who looks like he's focused."

In all, 10 of the GOP's 27 state senators have now called for the governor to step down.

Sanford, who is barred by state law from seeking a third term, has resisted calls he should resign, and plans to finish his last 18 months. At one time, the 49-year-old had been rumored as a presidential contender in 2012.

Meanwhile, many of the Republican's harshest critics were silent about the latest revelations, though the state's top prosecutor called for the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate all of the governor's travel records.

"In light of the governor's disclosure of additional travel today, I have requested that SLED conduct a preliminary review of all Governor Sanford's travel records to determine if any laws have been broken or any state funds misused," Attorney General McMaster said in a statement.

McMaster, a Republican who has said he plans to run for governor in 2010, said last week it was premature to call for a criminal investigation.

SLED chief Reggie Lloyd said his staff is reviewing the governor's travel records but expressed concerns his agency is being pushed to enter a political debate.

"It's an awesome power, when investigators and prosecutors start prying into something," said Lloyd, who was appointed by Sanford in January and has served as the state's U.S. Attorney. "We're doing this because of the calls of the AG and others for us to look at this. ... As of right now, I've got nothing to indicate that there's been a crime committed."

Sanford also said he'd cooperate with the investigation.

Sanford also said Tuesday he "crossed lines" with a handful of women other than his mistress — but never had sex with them — and also told the AP that Chapur is his soul mate but he's trying to fall back in love with his wife.

Sanford has repeatedly said he used no public money to visit the woman, though he did admit spending time with her last year during an economic trip to Brazil and Argentina, paid for by the Department of Commerce. His spokesman said the governor delivered a personal check Tuesday for nearly $3,000 to the state treasurer to cover lodging, meals and airfare for the trip.

Sanford's critics, increasingly vocal since he first revealed his affair last week, did not make public statements about the statements.

State Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia — a longtime Sanford opponent who last week revealed the governor was missing — had earlier called for a criminal investigation. He had encouraged other legislators to call for Sanford's resignation and urged him to "do the right thing" and step down voluntarily. His voice mail was full Tuesday.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a Republican but not ally of Sanford's, who has said before the scandal he would probably run for governor in 2010, said Monday he's disheartened by behind-the-scenes GOP infighting by candidates hoping to win the job next year. He said he was considering taking himself out of the 2010 race if it turns out that's the only thing keeping Sanford in office.

"This is a dark cloud over South Carolina. We need to move swiftly and move forward," he said then.

On Tuesday, he said he did not wish to comment on the latest news.

Sanford changing story from the time he revealed his affair damages his position, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell said.

That "obviously starts raising credibility concerns," said McConnell, R-Charleston, who leads the Senate.

Still, legislators have to focus on whether public money was used for the affair, or if Sanford deliberately left the state without a chief executive in control. Some have asked McConnell to convene the Judiciary Committee he runs or create a joint House and Senate committee to investigate, but he says that sentiment is premature.

He said if a law has been violated, it's SLED's job to look into it, while the Ethics Commission would look at ethics complaints if they are filed.

He added that "the press is doing a superb job of developing the details" and that "the Legislature is not a moral police force."

The president of a faith-based nonprofit group said Tuesday that Sanford is being inconsiderate toward his wife to talk so lovingly and publicly about his mistress but said the council's members remain conflicted on whether Sanford should resign.

"I think the more he talks, the more folks are interested in entertaining that," he said. "We wouldn't necessarily like the disruption, but we're also concerned about his ability to keep faith with the state if he can't keep faith with his wife."

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Wednesday, July 01, 2009 11:23 AM

Don't you find it curious that the SJS hasn't printed any statements from our house delegation?

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