S.C. House seeks Sanford report release

COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 10 (UPI) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is trying to set a dangerous precedent with his delaying tactics to avoid impeachment, attorneys for state lawmakers say.

Attorneys for the state's House of Representatives, arguing in court papers filed Friday, contend Sanford's efforts to bar lawmakers and the public from seeing the preliminary findings of an Ethics Commission investigation would set a troubling precedent, The State in Columbia reported.

The Ethics Commission looked into Sanford's use of private and state aircraft, his purchase of costly plane tickets and his use of campaign funds. Its findings could be used as evidence in a possible impeachment move against the Republican governor, who is embroiled in scandal over his extramarital affair with an Argentine woman, the newspaper said.

Sanford contends that because the committee's findings are preliminary, they do not contain his responses to allegations and could be used to undermine him politically and legally. Instead, he argues the commission's final report -- in which it endorses or rejects the preliminary evidence -- should be made public.

House attorneys contend that since the body has the constitutional ability to impeach, it acts as a prosecutor as thus is entitled to the preliminary report.

The State said the two sides are expected to meet Oct. 19 before the state Supreme Court.