Ethics Troubles Loom Large for S.C. Governor

Looks like South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s extramarital activities, which were brought to light last summer after a faux Appalachian Trail excursion (by way of Argentina), aren’t going to be wiped from the record anytime soon. Sanford is now looking at 37 ethics charges, at least a few of which appear related to his affair. In question is whether he used his office for personal financial gain. –KA

The Associated Press:

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces ethics charges he broke state laws more than three dozen times by violating rules on airplane travel and campaign money, according to details of the allegations released Monday.

It’s up to the state attorney general to decide whether to file criminal charges. Sanford’s lawyers have claimed the allegations involve minor and technical aspects of the law.

The second-term Republican governor has been under scrutiny since he vanished for five days over the summer, reappearing to tearfully admit to an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina he later called his “soul mate.”

A series of Associated Press investigations into his travel showed the governor had for years used state airplanes for political and personal trips, flown in pricey commercial airline seats despite a low-cost travel requirement and failed to disclose trips on planes owned by friends and donors.

The State of Columbia newspaper also questioned whether Sanford properly reimbursed himself from his campaign cash.

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