Mark Sanford impeachment papers expected today. Where are Rangels' papers, Democrats?
Major Debacle
impeach28-2009oct28,0,2037447.story
A fellow Republican is preparing to introduce a resolution
calling for the South Carolina governor's removal. Sanford has
admitted an extramarital affair and is the subject of an ethics
probe.
By Richard Fausset
October 28, 2009
Reporting from Atlanta
A resolution calling for the impeachment of South Carolina Gov.
Mark Sanford is expected to be filed with the state House of
Representatives today, setting up what could be an ugly and
protracted battle between the Legislature and a scandal-plauged
lame-duck governor who has vowed to stay until his term expires
in early 2011.
The measure is expected to be filed by Republican State Rep. F.
Gregory Delleney Jr., according to The State newspaper in
Columbia. But the matter could take some time to resolve.
After revealing that he went to Argentina to visit his mistress,
Sanford's travel expenditures have become the subject of a state
ethics commission investigation. He has asked the state Supreme
Court to prevent the commission from releasing a preliminary
report to legislators, arguing that it does not contain his
detailed rebuttal.
Sanford is a Republican, and both houses of the state
Legislature are controlled by the GOP. However, the South
Carolina Republican Party has voted to ask Sanford to resign,
and he has lost the support of many other Republicans in the
statehouse.
Andy Beeson, an attorney with the state legislative counsel's
office, said that if the house passed an impeachment resolution,
the matter would go to the Senate, which would conduct a trial.
However, Beeson said, many of the details of the proceedings are
hazy because South Carolina has never impeached a governor.
"I think that's uncharted territory in this state," he said.
Republicans have more integrity than Democrats today.