No Impeachment for South Carolina Governor

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s affair with an Argentine may have exacted a personal cost and made him more vulnerable politically, but it looks as if his conduct won’t cost him his job. A panel of his state’s lawmakers have decided his indiscretions don’t merit impeachment. –KA

ABC News:

Lawmakers were still considering whether to recommend an official reprimand.

Six of the seven panel members said they believed the events surrounding Sanford’s extramarital affair involving an Argentine woman did not rise to a high enough level to warrant his removal from office prior to the end of his second and final term in January 2011.

“We can’t impeach for hypocrisy. We can’t impeach for arrogance. We can’t impeach an officeholder for his lack of leadership skills,” said Rep. James Harrison, the Columbia Republican who headed the panel.

[…] The decision breathes new life into Sanford’s remaining 13 months as governor, though he still faces further legislative votes on the official rebuke. He’s also the subject of a State Ethics Commission hearing on more than three dozen civil charges involving his use of state planes, pricey commercial airlines seats and campaign money.

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