Hearing Held At S.C. Supreme Court Over Governor Sanford’s Ethics Investigation

Columbia, SC—Usually, the South Carolina Ethics Commission cannot talk about whether it’s even investigating someone, unless that person waives confidentiality. Governor Mark Sanford did waive confidentiality, so we know the Ethics Commission is looking into his travel, campaign financesm, and accepting free flights from friends. But, his lawyer told the South Carolina Supreme Court the confidentiality waiver was only to confirm that there is an investigation, and what it’s about…not the details.

The Governor is asking the State Supreme Court to block the Ethics Commission from giving its investigative report to the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Cathy Hazelwood, South Carolina Ethics Commission: “Well, I think since the waiver, since the waiver’s been made, it’s a genie they’ve been trying to stuff back in that bottle, ever since, that this has been a waiver and ever since then they’ve been trying to take it back.“

The House says it’s entitled to the Ethics Commission’s report. State law says the report can go only to a prosecuting authority.

charles Reed, South Carolina house of Representatives attorney: “"The House is always a prosecutorial authority when it comes to impeachment of statewide elected officials and state judges.“

But, the Governor’s lawyer says that would create open season on politicians and create all kinds of political mischief.

Kevin Hall, Gov. Sanford attorney: “If the General Assembly is perpetually sitting in the mode of impeachment, anybody who is a statewide officer, a judge is in the crosshairs.“

Before deciding who’s right… the S.C. Supreme Court has to first decide whether it’s going to take the case.

The Ethics Commission’s attorney told the Supreme Court, Monday afternoon, that there’s no way to know when its investigation of the Governor will be finished. The executive director of the Ethics Commission estimated the end of this month, or the beginning of November, but the Commission’s lawyer told the justices that’s just a guess.