It's All Coming Back To You

The head of the South Carolina state Senate committee in charge of investigating GOP Gov. Mark Sanford's use of state resources for business trips believes that Sanford indeed broke the law when he charged taxpayers for first-class international flights.

State Sen. David Thomas, whose budget committee investigated Sanford's flights following reports last month by The Associated Press, sent evidence to Senate leaders Monday arguing the Republican governor violated state laws requiring the cheapest travel possible.

Thomas said Sanford's more expensive flights on two state Commerce Department trips cost taxpayers $13,700 more than the economy class flights available.

Legislators can consider sanctions against Sanford ranging from demanding reimbursement to impeachment, said Thomas, R-Fountain Inn.

"It could be perceived, if it's significant enough and a case can be made of it, to constitute a case for possible impeachment," Thomas said Monday.

Sanford spokesman Benjamin Fox said Thomas' conclusions that the governor broke the law "blatantly overreach and accordingly are, in our view, not correct."

"Before making his claims, it would have seemed fair for Senator Thomas to actually approach our office, as well as the Department of Commerce, to discuss his evidence and his interpretation of state laws and regulations," Fox said in a statement.

Now keep in mind this is Republican versus Republican here. Odds are good Sanford will draw a full state investigation into the case, but the fact a Republican-led group of state lawmakers are recommending sanctions against Sanford is a pretty big deal. There will be pressure for Sanford to resign once again. They weren't ready to impeach the guy over adultery (which isn't against the law). This however is a violation of state law, and presents a whole new batch of problems going forward.

We'll see how this turns out.