Published: Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 / Updated: Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 11:25 AM
S.C. House committee readies for Sanford impeachment
COLUMBIA --
The first steps to the possible impeachment of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford are expected next week and could be headed to a special committee.
Meanwhile, first lady Jenny Sanford is getting national exposure as one of this year's 10 most fascinating people in an ABC program on Dec. 9.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison of Columbia said Thursday it is up to House Speaker Bobby Harrell to decide how to handle a resolution already drafted to remove Sanford because he abandoned the state for five days in June to rendezvous with his Argentine lover.
Harrison said he would set up a special committee within the Judiciary Committee to handle impeachment if the speaker sends state Rep. Greg Delleney's resolution to his committee.
Sanford spokesman Ben Fox said he is “not going to speculate or weigh in on anything the House may or may not do next week.”
Some say Sanford may avoid impeachment because the state landed an expansion of a Boeing aircraft plant in North Charleston. Others say Sanford's fate rests on a State Ethics Commission review of his use of state planes for personal and political purposes.
House spokesman Greg Foster said the House expects to see that review when it is delivered to Sanford.
Also on Thursday, ABC said first lady Jenny Sanford would be interviewed in the “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009.
Jenny Sanford had a leading role in building her husband's political career by running his campaigns for the U.S. House and governor. But she has not played the role of dutiful wife standing beside a husband who strayed.
Walters will also have a longer interview with Sanford to coincide with the release of the first lady's memoir in April.
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