SC Governor Mark Sanford Explains Why He Won’t Resign
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Governor Sanford Explains Why He Won't Resign
He's staying in office! South Carolina's Governor Sanford explains why he won't step down. Governor Sanford admits that he did think about resigning... after announcing he had cheated on his wife....
He’s staying in office! South Carolina’s Governor Sanford explains why he won’t step down. Governor Sanford admits that he did think about resigning… after announcing he had cheated on his wife. Monday, Gov. Sanford said he spent the weekend soul-searching…praying…and talking to friends and lawmakers…and has decided he will not resign. WJBF News Channel 6’s SC Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, is in Columbia…with the latest in the “Sanford scandal.“
Published: June 29, 2009
Columbia, SC—Governor Mark Sanford was back at work Monday…but says he almost wasn’t. He says his initial reaction to the scandal surrounding him… was to resign. But, he was back at work monday… after a weekend with his family. He chaired a meeting of the state Budget and Control Board…starting with apologies.
governor Mark Sanford, (R) South Carolina: “If you’ve disappointed folks, as I have, I don’t think you can outdo it. So Hugh, I want to apologize to you personally for letting you down. Frank, I want to apologize to you.“
After the meeting…he told reporters his initial reaction was to resign, but he spoke to friends and lawmakers over the weekend who encouraged him not to…including John Rainey…who first approached sanford about running for Governor.
gov. Sanford: “He’d been the one who originally encouraged me. He came over to the house for dinner, last night. He said, ‘Absolutely, you should not resign. You need to push forward just as the state needs to push forward. So, that’s what I intend to do.“
One of those friends…is Senator Lindsey Graham.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina: “It would be in the best interest of South Carolina, in my opinion, to try and allow Governor Sanford to try and finish out his term. But he’s got some damage to repair with his family, with the people of South Carolina, and I’m willing to allow him to do that and I think he can.“
But, State Representative Todd Rutherford thinks Sanford should have resigned.
State Representative Todd Rutherford, (D) Columbia: “You cannot be gone that long without good reason. He should have been fired. The only way for him to be fired is for him to currently resign. Impeachment, at this point, does not seem to be an option.“
Robert Kittle, reporting: “Lt. Governor Andre Bauer told me today he did not tell lawmakers that he would serve the rest of Sanford’s term…but would not run for Governor in 2010…if Sanford resigned. The idea is…that would remove the concern that Sanford’s resignation would give Bauer an edge in the Governor’s race…because he’d have 18 months on the job. Bauer says people suggested that to him…and he considered it…but he did not decide to do that.“
We asked Governor Sanford exactly how many trips to Argentina he’s taken. He said two…the economic development trip, a year ago…and this one, last week. He says no state taxpayer money was used.
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