SC governor's whereabouts unknown, even to wife

[samanthajane13]

BY JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer Jim Davenport, Associated Press Writer – 28 mins ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Where is South Carolina's governor?

The lieutenant governor doesn't know, and neither does a state senator who's a close confidante. Even Gov. Mark Sanford's wife is in the dark.

And while his staff said they knew where he was, a spokesman said he wasn't aware that any of them had spoken with the governor since Thursday. Sanford's wife said she hasn't heard from him in several days, including Father's Day.

"He was writing something and wanted some space to get away from the kids," Jenny Sanford told The Associated Press while vacationing with the couple's four sons at their Sullivans Island beach house. She said she didn't know where he was, but wasn't concerned.

Sanford, who's also chairman of the Republican Governors Association, earned a reputation as the nation's most vocal anti-bailout governor by refusing $700 million in federal stimulus money for schools until he lost a court battle earlier this month.

His spokesman Joel Sawyer said the governor was taking a break after losing the fight.

"Gov. Sanford is taking some time away from the office this week to recharge after the stimulus battle and the legislative session and to work on a couple of projects that have fallen by the wayside," Sawyer said.

Sawyer told The Associated Press that he hadn't spoken with Sanford since Thursday and wasn't aware that any other member of the governor's staff had, either. The governor told his staff where he was going last week and planned to check in.

"If an emergency arose and we were unable to immediately reach him, we would obviously consult with other state officials before making any decisions," including Bauer, Sawyer said.

Sawyer wouldn't say where the Sanford was, but said it was an area with limited communication.

A post-session wind-down isn't uncommon and he goes "out of pocket for a few days at a time to clear his head," Sawyer said. "Obviously, that's going to be somewhat out of the question this time given the attention this particular absence has gotten."

Asked how he knew the governor was OK, Sawyer referred a reporter to his prepared statements. "Again, this is not unusual. We are not at all concerned," Sawyer said. He expected Sanford would return later this week.

Law enforcement officials who handle his security declined to comment and Sawyer wouldn't say whether Sanford had a security detail with him. Sanford is known for taking walks and runs without security, but flight logs show he seldom leaves the state without it.

Sanford typically is open about his whereabouts, and his office makes no secret of time spent on vacation or out of state.

But politicians, including the lieutenant governor, said they did not know Sanford was taking time away from his office.

State Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican, Sanford confidante and former chief of staff, said his calls to Sanford were going straight to voice mail. Calls from The Associated Press to the governor's cell phone also went to voice mail.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said he didn't know where Sanford was but said he had not been put in charge.

Sanford's critics were quick to criticize the governor.

"It's one thing for the boys to go off by themselves, but on Fathers Day to leave your family behind? That's erratic," said Senate Minority Leader John Land, D-Manning.

Sanford's unannounced absence was a cause for concern because the National Guard and the state's top law enforcement agencies report to him, Land said.

"And when those officials can't get in touch with the commander, it's really weird. That's not responsible," he said.

Sen. Jake Knotts, a Lexington Republican and a persistent Sanford critic, said the state needs to know where its governor is.

"The way things are in the world today and homeland security, we need the governor to be fingertips away," Knotts said. "Somebody's got to be in charge."

___

Associated Press Writer Bruce Smith in Sullivans Island contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090622/...governor_where

[samanthajane13]

SC governor takes a hike, leaves leaders in dark
BY JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer Jim Davenport, Associated Press Writer – 20 mins ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A dayslong absence by South Carolina's governor left fellow state leaders scratching their heads.

The lieutenant governor couldn't figure out where Gov. Mark Sanford was. Calls from a state senator and close friend rolled to voice mail. Even his wife said she hadn't talked to him for several days.

The explanation came Monday night from his spokesman: The second-term chief executive was hiking along the Appalachian Trail "to kind of clear his head after the legislative session."

That session included his losing fight to reject $700 million in federal stimulus cash that Sanford eventually accepted under duress and a court order.

The Republican governor left town on Thursday, his spokesman Joel Sawyer said, with plans to hike the trail, which passes through 14 states but not South Carolina. Sawyer said he didn't know where exactly Sanford was along the 2,200-mile route and declined to discuss if anyone was hiking with him. The governor was expected back later this week.

"He's an avid outdoorsman," Sawyer said. "Nobody's ever accused our governor of being conventional."

While other governors eagerly gobbled up federal stimulus money to fill budget holes, Sanford has railed against President Barack Obama's $787 billion bailout package. It left him dealing with protests at home, where educators predicted massive teacher layoffs without it. Sanford, who's also chairman of the Republican Governors Association, wanted to use it only to pay down debt.

His absence has drawn more criticism. Some questioned who was in charge of South Carolina if he couldn't be reached. The National Guard and the state's top law enforcement agencies report to him, said Senate Minority Leader John Land, D-Manning.

Lt. Gov. Andrew Bauer said he'd been rebuffed by the governor's staff when he tried to find out where Sanford was and had not been put in charge in his absence.

"I cannot take lightly that his staff has not had communication with him for more than four days, and that no one, including his own family, knows his whereabouts," said Bauer.

Sawyer said if there was an emergency, the office would consult with other state officials before making any decisions.

"We knew he would be difficult to reach, and that he would be checking in infrequently," Sawyer said in a statement.

Jenny Sanford said Monday she had not spoken with her husband for several days, including Father's Day. The Sanfords have four sons.

"He was writing something and wanted some space to get away from the kids," she told The Associated Press while vacationing at the family's Sullivans Island beach house. A message left for her wasn't returned after the governor's hiking plans were disclosed.

"It's one thing for the boys to go off by themselves, but on Father's Day to leave your family behind? That's erratic," Land said. "And when those officials can't get in touch with the commander, it's really weird. That's not responsible."

Sanford is known for taking walks and runs without security, but flight logs show he seldom leaves the state without it. His security team wouldn't comment. And Sanford's office normally makes no secret of time he spends on vacation or out of state.

Sen. Jake Knotts, a Lexington Republican and a persistent Sanford critic, said the state needs to know where its governor is.

"The way things are in the world today and homeland security, we need the governor to be fingertips away," Knotts said.

___

Associated Press Writers Bruce Smith in Sullivans Island and Michael R. Baker in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090623/...governor_where

[samanthajane13]

SC governor to return to work after mystery trip
BY JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer Jim Davenport, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 28 mins ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After a political mystery — "Where in the World is South Carolina's Governor?" — Mark Sanford's aides said he was stunned by all the fuss over his five-day absence and would cut short a secretive hike along the Appalachian Trail.

State officials and even his wife said they had no idea where he went over Father's Day weekend, and not everyone is buying his explanation. His disappearance has left some in the Palmetto State wondering: Is this any way for a governor to act?

Sanford's spokesman said the governor was hiking to clear his head after the legislative session, during which he lost a key battle.

But critics of the two-term Republican — and there are many — wondered why it took nine hours after reporters started asking questions for the governor's staff to say what the state's chief executive was doing. Sanford was expected back in his office Wednesday, but his aides stopped answering questions about his trip, including where he was on the 2,175-mile trail, whether he was with security and if anyone else could confirm his whereabouts.

"If you're not skeptical, then you have to think the governor's office is in complete chaos," said Carol Fowler, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party.

The episode could squelch talk of a 2012 presidential bid that only grew after months spent building credibility with conservatives as he battled legislators over taking the state's share of $787 billion in federal stimulus cash.

"If he were thinking of a presidential run, this is all the more puzzling," said Mark Rozell, a George Mason University political scientist. "Any opponent would try to capitalize on this and easily could do so."

Rumblings about Sanford's mysterious departure began Monday, three weeks after he failed to block federal bailout money for South Carolina schools. A court order June 4 forced him to take the $700 million.

Republican state Sen. Jake Knotts started asking questions about a rumor that Sanford had disappeared in a state law enforcement vehicle.

His wife, Jenny, told The Associated Press on Monday that he needed time away from his four sons to write something. For hours, his staff would only say he was vacationing. It wasn't until 10 p.m. Monday that they allowed he was hiking.

Jenny Sanford drove past three reporters outside the family's beach house Tuesday and said only: "Leave us to our privacy."

Fowler said she was surprised to learn Sanford's office said he was hiking "since this whole thing was he wanted to get away from the kids to write things. Strolling down the trail writing?"

Knotts, a frequent critic, said he accepts Sanford's story but doesn't believe it.

"That's his story," Knotts said. "If it's true, it's true."

Sanford, a trim, 49-year-old former real estate investor and Air Force reservist, is typically drained at the end of a legislative session, former aides said. State Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican and Sanford's former chief of staff, said he visited with Sanford last Wednesday and could tell the governor was ready for a break.

"It's not unusual to take off and kind of be by himself," Davis said. "It's part of what makes him him."

Another former chief of staff also wasn't surprised to learn about Sanford's disappearing act.

"Mark Sanford is an original," Fred Carter said. "He will never conform to your expectations or mine. And that's the beauty and the tragedy of this administration."

The governor has long been known as a loner — bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. He clashes often with the Republicans who control both chambers of his state Legislature, once famously carrying two piglets to the door of the House in opposition to what he said was pork-barrel spending.

But past vacations never left Sanford completely out of touch, said Chris Drummond, Sanford's former spokesman. At worst, Sanford would call in daily or would respond to voice mails.

This time, Sanford had been untethered from staff since Thursday, apparently out of state. The Appalachian Trail passes through 14 states, but not South Carolina.

How his office handled it was a problem, said Rozell, the political scientist.

"The citizens who elected him have the right to know that someone there is in charge of the executive branch," Rozell said.

Who was in charge became the political and practical question.

Essentially, Sanford's staffers said they'd decide who to call if an emergency popped up and the governor couldn't be reached. The state's constitution says as a temporary absence would give the lieutenant governor full authority in the state. But the temporary absence has never been defined.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, a Charleston Republican, says the state's law needs to be clarified. He said state residents want important decisions to be made by elected leaders who take oaths.

"In an emergency," he said, "it should be those people who consult with staff to make a decision and not the other way around."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090623/...governor_where

[RayStar]

Well we know now where he was. LOL This man is in love with woman!

[SaraSidle]

Originally Posted by RayStar

Well we know now where he was. LOL This man is in love with woman!

Yeah It was so obvious I could not believe it. I think he wanted to get caught. talk about your infatuation. IMO sara

[samanthajane13]

SC Gov. Sanford admits affair after going AWOL
By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer Jim Davenport, Associated Press Writer – 9 mins ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After going AWOL for seven days, Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday that he had secretly flown to Argentina to visit a woman with whom he was having an affair. Wiping away tears, he apologized to his family and gave up a national Republican Party post, but was silent on whether he would resign.

"I've been unfaithful to my wife," he said in a news conference in which the 49-year-old governor ruminated on God's law, moral absolutes and following one's heart. He said he spent the last five days "crying in Argentina."

Sanford, who in recent months had been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2012, said he would resign as head of the Republican Governors Association.

By leaving the country without formally transferring power, critics said he neglected his gubernatorial authority and put the state at risk. It wasn't clear how his staff could reach him in an emergency.

At least one state lawmaker called for his resignation. As a congressman, Sanford voted in favor of three of four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, citing the need for "moral legitimacy."

The affair is now over, Sanford said, describing the woman who lives in Argentina as a "dear, dear friend" who he has known for about eight years and been romantically involved with for about a year. He said he has seen her three times since the affair began, and wife found out about it five months ago. A newspaper published steamy e-mails between Sanford and the woman. He did not identify her.

"What I did was wrong. Period," he said. His family did not attend the news conference, and his wife Jenny Sanford said she asked the governor to leave and stop speaking to her two weeks ago. The governor said he wants to reconcile, and his wife's statement said her husband has earned a chance to resurrect their marriage.

"This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage," she said.

Sanford denied instructing his staff to cover up his affair, but acknowledged that he told them he thought he would be hiking on the Appalachian Trail and never corrected that impression after leaving for South America.

"I let them down by creating a fiction with regard to where I was going," Sanford said. "I said that was the original possibility. Again, this is my fault in ... shrouding this larger trip."

Questions about Sanford's whereabouts arose early this week. For two days after reporters started asking questions, his office had said he had gone hiking on the trail.

Cornered at the Atlanta airport by a reporter from The State newspaper, Sanford revealed Wednesday morning that he had gone to Argentina for a seven-day trip.

When news first broke about his mysterious disappearance, Jenny Sanford told The Associated Press she did not know where her husband had gone for the Father's Day weekend.

Sanford emerged Wednesday afternoon at a news conference, where he mused openly of his love of hiking and how he used to guide trips along the Appalachian Trail, and eventually tearfully apologized to his wife, his staff and his friends — but without yet saying what he was apologizing for.

"I hurt a lot of different folks," he said, occasionally choking up throughout the news conference that lasted about 20 minutes.

With those watching still wondering what he was admitting, Sanford said: "The odyssey that we're all on in life is with regard to heart."

Excerpts of e-mail exchanges between the governor and his mistress were published online Wednesday by The State. The governor's office wouldn't discuss the e-mails with The Associated Press, but told The State it wouldn't dispute the authenticity of the messages.

One from the governor read: "I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night's light — but hey, that would be going into sexual details."

Several residents said they were disappointed in Sanford.

"He shouldn't have lied to us. He should have been up straight," said college student Gerald Walker, 19, in downtown Columbia. "It's very embarrassing for someone in a leadership role that we are supposed to respect, especially me being a young guy."

Glenn Mitchell, of Columbia, said he felt Sanford's absence showed a lack of concern for the state.

"He left the state unattended," said Mitchell, 54, out of work recuperating from surgery. "He just hasn't been there for us."

State Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, called for Sanford's resignation.

"There is nothing left to save," Rutherford said. "There is no reason for him to remain as governor."

Sanford, a former three-term congressman, was elected governor in 2002. He has more than a year remaining in his second term and is barred by state law from running again.

Sanford was elected chairman of the Republican Governors Association this year after he helped raise a record $10.6 million at the group's 2008 annual dinner to help elect GOP governors. The association said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour would assume the duties as chairman.

The libertarian-leaning Republican was seldom a firebrand. But he was known for salting tales of family life into policy discussions.

He criticized the $787 billion federal stimulus law and efforts by legislators to claim a share of it by saying in tough times a family would sit around the table and find ways to cut spending.

His vocal battle against the Obama administration over the stimulus money won praise from conservative pundits, but ultimately, a state court order required him to take the money.

Jenny Sanford, a millionaire whose family fortune comes from the Skil Corp. power tool company, has been central to Sanford's political career. She ran his congressional campaigns and his first race for governor. She was an almost daily fixture at senior staff meetings, and often could be seen driving a minivan away from the Statehouse in the mornings.

The two met when Sanford, who has an MBA, was trying his hand on Wall Street. She was working at a brokerage house when he entered a training program.

As governor, Sanford has had seemingly endless run-ins with the GOP-dominated Legislature, once bringing pigs to the House chamber to protest pork barrel spending. He also put a "spending clock" outside his office to show how quickly a proposed budget would spend state money.

Sanford's announcement came a day after another prominent Republican, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, apologized to his GOP Senate colleagues after revealing last week that he had an affair with a campaign staffer and was resigning from the GOP leadership.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/...governor_where


You know, I never really read too much of these articles until now, except for the fact that the moron was missing.

Now that he's admitted screwing around...

How did I know he was a Republican???

[SaraSidle]

Originally Posted by samanthajane13

SC Gov. Sanford admits affair after going AWOL
By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer Jim Davenport, Associated Press Writer – 9 mins ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After going AWOL for seven days, Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday that he had secretly flown to Argentina to visit a woman with whom he was having an affair. Wiping away tears, he apologized to his family and gave up a national Republican Party post, but was silent on whether he would resign.

"I've been unfaithful to my wife," he said in a news conference in which the 49-year-old governor ruminated on God's law, moral absolutes and following one's heart. He said he spent the last five days "crying in Argentina."

Sanford, who in recent months had been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2012, said he would resign as head of the Republican Governors Association.

By leaving the country without formally transferring power, critics said he neglected his gubernatorial authority and put the state at risk. It wasn't clear how his staff could reach him in an emergency.

At least one state lawmaker called for his resignation. As a congressman, Sanford voted in favor of three of four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, citing the need for "moral legitimacy."

The affair is now over, Sanford said, describing the woman who lives in Argentina as a "dear, dear friend" who he has known for about eight years and been romantically involved with for about a year. He said he has seen her three times since the affair began, and wife found out about it five months ago. A newspaper published steamy e-mails between Sanford and the woman. He did not identify her.

"What I did was wrong. Period," he said. His family did not attend the news conference, and his wife Jenny Sanford said she asked the governor to leave and stop speaking to her two weeks ago. The governor said he wants to reconcile, and his wife's statement said her husband has earned a chance to resurrect their marriage.

"This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage," she said.

Sanford denied instructing his staff to cover up his affair, but acknowledged that he told them he thought he would be hiking on the Appalachian Trail and never corrected that impression after leaving for South America.

"I let them down by creating a fiction with regard to where I was going," Sanford said. "I said that was the original possibility. Again, this is my fault in ... shrouding this larger trip."

Questions about Sanford's whereabouts arose early this week. For two days after reporters started asking questions, his office had said he had gone hiking on the trail.

Cornered at the Atlanta airport by a reporter from The State newspaper, Sanford revealed Wednesday morning that he had gone to Argentina for a seven-day trip.

When news first broke about his mysterious disappearance, Jenny Sanford told The Associated Press she did not know where her husband had gone for the Father's Day weekend.

Sanford emerged Wednesday afternoon at a news conference, where he mused openly of his love of hiking and how he used to guide trips along the Appalachian Trail, and eventually tearfully apologized to his wife, his staff and his friends — but without yet saying what he was apologizing for.

"I hurt a lot of different folks," he said, occasionally choking up throughout the news conference that lasted about 20 minutes.

With those watching still wondering what he was admitting, Sanford said: "The odyssey that we're all on in life is with regard to heart."

Excerpts of e-mail exchanges between the governor and his mistress were published online Wednesday by The State. The governor's office wouldn't discuss the e-mails with The Associated Press, but told The State it wouldn't dispute the authenticity of the messages.

One from the governor read: "I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night's light — but hey, that would be going into sexual details."

Several residents said they were disappointed in Sanford.

"He shouldn't have lied to us. He should have been up straight," said college student Gerald Walker, 19, in downtown Columbia. "It's very embarrassing for someone in a leadership role that we are supposed to respect, especially me being a young guy."

Glenn Mitchell, of Columbia, said he felt Sanford's absence showed a lack of concern for the state.

"He left the state unattended," said Mitchell, 54, out of work recuperating from surgery. "He just hasn't been there for us."

State Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, called for Sanford's resignation.

"There is nothing left to save," Rutherford said. "There is no reason for him to remain as governor."

Sanford, a former three-term congressman, was elected governor in 2002. He has more than a year remaining in his second term and is barred by state law from running again.

Sanford was elected chairman of the Republican Governors Association this year after he helped raise a record $10.6 million at the group's 2008 annual dinner to help elect GOP governors. The association said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour would assume the duties as chairman.

The libertarian-leaning Republican was seldom a firebrand. But he was known for salting tales of family life into policy discussions.

He criticized the $787 billion federal stimulus law and efforts by legislators to claim a share of it by saying in tough times a family would sit around the table and find ways to cut spending.

His vocal battle against the Obama administration over the stimulus money won praise from conservative pundits, but ultimately, a state court order required him to take the money.

Jenny Sanford, a millionaire whose family fortune comes from the Skil Corp. power tool company, has been central to Sanford's political career. She ran his congressional campaigns and his first race for governor. She was an almost daily fixture at senior staff meetings, and often could be seen driving a minivan away from the Statehouse in the mornings.

The two met when Sanford, who has an MBA, was trying his hand on Wall Street. She was working at a brokerage house when he entered a training program.

As governor, Sanford has had seemingly endless run-ins with the GOP-dominated Legislature, once bringing pigs to the House chamber to protest pork barrel spending. He also put a "spending clock" outside his office to show how quickly a proposed budget would spend state money.

Sanford's announcement came a day after another prominent Republican, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, apologized to his GOP Senate colleagues after revealing last week that he had an affair with a campaign staffer and was resigning from the GOP leadership.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/...governor_where


You know, I never really read too much of these articles until now, except for the fact that the moron was missing.

Now that he's admitted screwing around...

How did I know he was a Republican???

Look what he has messed up;

marriage
4 sons
governship
career
respect
and all for an affair. Sometimes I am so glad I am not a politician or movie star. Although even now I could not disappear for 4 days without it being really noticed..............IMO sara

[samanthajane13]

AP Exclusive: SC governor's mom praying for son
By TAMARA LUSH, Associated Press Writer Tamara Lush, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 19 mins ago

BEAUFORT, S.C. – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's mother tells The Associated Press she is praying for her son.

Speaking Saturday at her Beaufort home, 83-year-old Margaret Sanford expressed love and support for the governor who this week admitted having an affair with a woman in Argentina.

Margaret Sanford said she'd just returned to her home from the state capital of Columbia. She would not say whether she'd seen her son or what the two have discussed.

Meanwhile, pressure mounts for a criminal probe into the governor's secret trip.

Democratic leaders want an investigation into Sanford's use of state money to help pay for an earlier South America trip. Others are questioning whether the governor broke laws by leaving without giving the lieutenant governor control.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The details of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's secretive trips to visit his lover in South America aren't just headline fodder or political kryptonite.

They're also being scrutinized by law enforcement officials at the request of some lawmakers and watchdog groups who fear taxpayer money could have been misused on his affair. So far, no criminal investigation has been opened.

On Thursday, Sanford agreed to reimburse the state for part of a more-than $8,000 tab that enabled him to see his mistress on an official economic development trip to Argentina's capital city. At a Cabinet meeting Friday, he told the head of the state Commerce Department he was sorry about the trip.

The department had initially included only Brazil on the official itinerary but added meetings in Buenos Aires at the governor's behest, said Kara Borie, a spokeswoman for the state Commerce Department.

Sanford did conduct business in Buenos Aires, although Borie said there were no specific economic development projects that have come from them.

"I will tell you that visits of this nature are not that uncommon," she said, noting the results aren't always immediately evident.

But the furor over Sanford's trip is mushrooming. Critics called on the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate state spending on the trip and whether Sanford broke laws by leaving on his latest visit to Argentina last Thursday without turning control over to the lieutenant governor. His staff told people who asked that he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

"We also have to worry about whether this is the tip of the iceberg. We don't know what else is out there. We don't know what's going to come out tomorrow. We don't know what's going to come out next," said state Sen. Jake Knotts R-West Columbia.

The law enforcement agency said it was reviewing Knotts' request, but hadn't opened a criminal investigation involving Sanford as of Friday.

"To date, given the information we know, we do not believe that there will be a criminal investigation launched," agency spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said.

Also calling for inquiries were the state chapter of government watchdog Common Cause and the Washington-based nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, which directed its request to the state ethics commission.

Sanford got back to work Friday, meeting with his Cabinet in front of about two dozen reporters and cameramen. Routine business included a discussion of tax revenues and a drunken driving campaign, but Sanford's first public meeting since returning from Argentina Wednesday was hardly ordinary.

Sanford apologized to the agency heads and at one point likened his struggle to that of King David. Sanford said King David "fell mightily, fell in very, very significant ways, but then picked up the pieces and built from there."

Post-meeting, some Cabinet members said Sanford handled himself well.

"We all have things in our personal life that we don't want to shine under the spotlight," said Buck Limehouse, head of the state's transportation department. "There's nothing to be accomplished by rehashing this over and over. The needs of the people of South Carolina are more important than the personal issues."

Not everyone in the capital is being as kind. Knotts encouraged other legislators to call for Sanford's resignation and urged him to "do the right thing" and step down voluntarily.

Joining the calls for resignation was a one-time ally, the head of the group that's pushed Sanford's school choice effort. If Republicans are going to criticize Democrats for moral failings, Sanford has to go, said Randy Page, president of the conservative advocacy group South Carolinians for Responsible Government.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/...us_sc_governor