Sanford impeachment effort stalls

COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The South Carolina House speaker blocked an impeachment effort against Republican Gov. Mark Sanford after Democrats voiced concern about the statehouse mood.

Speaker Bobby Harrell said his refusal to allow the resolution to be introduced during Tuesday's special session only postpones it for about three weeks, when the pre-filing period begins for bill to be considered when the Legislature meets in January, the Greenville News reported Wednesday.

The resolution alleges Sanford's actions constituted a "dereliction of duty" when he left the state in June on a five-day trip to Argentina to meet his lover.

Harrell said he ruled to block the resolution of Rep. Greg Delleney, a Republican, because research indicated an impeachment resolution couldn't be introduced during a special session after the regular session adjourned.

Delleney said his resolution eventually will be assigned to a committee, where work can begin on the case against the governor when the Legislature returns in January.

The two Democrats who objected to the resolution being introduced Tuesday said they were protecting the reputation of the House.

"What I don't want us to do is to create a kangaroo court, inadvertently, arbitrarily or whatever because of some deep-seated feelings about the governor and his actions," Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter said.