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South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford spent yesterday afternoon defending himself against legislative critics calling for his resignation. But the calls are getting louder. Last night, the South Carolina Republican Party was the latest to urge Sanford to step down. WFAE's Julie Rose reports.
 
In July, the leadership of the Republican Party in South Carolina decided to censure Sanford for abandoning his duties as Governor during a five-day trip to Argentina to visit his mistress. 

At the time, members of the party believed Sanford was contrite and could get back on track as Governor.  But last night the party's executive committee voted by a two-thirds majority to ask Sanford to resign.
 
South Carolina GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd says the scandal-ridden Governor is now damaging the Party and its candidates by staying in office.

"It's something I cannot abide in my role as Party Chairman," says Floyd.  "And so I and the executive committee of the State of South Carolina Republican Party formally request the Governor's resignation."

Just a few months ago, Sanford was the darling of conservatives for his stance against big government and wasteful spending. Now it appears he has few friends in political circles.

This week, 61 of the 72 Republicans in the state House of Representatives urged Sanford to resign. A major of state senators also want him to step down.

But Sanford is fighting back.

"I'll use every tool in the toolbox," says Sanford.  "We will use legal action if necessary."

Sanford held a press conference Thursday to accuse the General Assembly of trying to circumvent an ongoing investigation by the State Ethics Commission.

"We have a real problem if members of the General Assembly are going to try to influence and truncate an ethics committee process so they can get the intended result that they want and use it for impeachment," said Sanford.

An investigation of Sanford's travel and use of the state plane is underway by the Ethics Commission, but is not likely to be complete for several weeks. 

The Commission intends to release its preliminary report to the House even before the full commission deliberates on the investigation's findings and decides whether Sanford actually broke the law.

Governor Sanford wants the results of the investigation to be released only after the Ethics Commission has heard his defense, deliberated and made its final decision. Otherwise, he says:
 
"What you're doing is you're setting up a kangaroo court where you ought to just base the whole thing on media headlines or opponents accusations," says Sanford.

Sanford and his attorneys believe it is actually illegal for the Ethics Commission to give the preliminary investigation report to the General Assembly because it can only be released to a prosecutorial body. Sanford's attorney, Butch Bowers, says the General Assembly doesn't qualify.
 
"Even if we get down the road of impeachment – I'm not here to talk about that – but even if we did, they're still not a prosecutorial body," says Bowers. "Because if you look at the constitution, impeachment does not involve criminal sanctions. All it involves – the ultimate remedy in impeachment is removal from office."

But Ethics Commission executive director Herbert Hayden says the House does qualify to receive the preliminary report if it has begun impeachment proceedings.  He adds that Governor Sanford is free to file a motion with the Commission and argue his point.  

Sanford's opponents say they're rather the Governor simply resign because the ongoing scandal is too much of a distraction for the state. But Sanford says they're only making the distraction worse with letters calling for his resignation.

And the mail is piling up.

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The narcissist is becoming a masocist. Pack your bags and leave Sanford. Joe WIlson has taken over as South Carolina's top Bozo.

anyone who is a liar and a cheat should not be governor. it's simple.

Hello, This man needs to resign. He has broken the most solemn vow to a life partner, his wife. It was done for selfish reasons and with the hope that no one would discover his betrayal. It will be easier for him to betray the trust of the people of South Carolina. People elected to public office should recognize that they are role models and need to uphold values and standards. This man, knowing full well what he was doing, has failed the test. An escape from responsibility was obtained by Bill Clinton due to his party’s lack of will to do what was morally right. Let’s hope the Republican Party will not be as weak. Impeach him. Bill

Give it up, dude. Just resign and allow the legislature to get back to doing actual work instead of wasting time trying to figure out how to get rid of you.

you bunch of pious ,self-serving republicans must think you have never committed a sin in your lives. The remorse with which Gov. Sanford made public,should have been enough for everyone.His miscomings is of a private nature between him,his wife,family members,and close friends.I think everyone of you need to do some soul serching of your own before throwing the first stone, after all, are you so sure you have nothing to feel remorseful about yourselves? If you believe in the Bible,and the words therein;Jesus said If you are without sin throw the first stone.Apparently,from what I have read since this first became such a news topic,he has saved the state of SC quite alot of money and frankly,I don't think he's had alot of support from his own party.Get over yourselves,you have such a pattern of being hypocrites.You should pray for your President,your Governor,and all the other leaders in this great United States,and by all means yourselves and your petty jealousy.All things have a way of coming back to haunt you. In closing,search your own heart before you do something so cruel.I'm sure the governor and his family have this to face the rest of their lives,don't add salt to their wounds.The more you talk about something,the bigger it becomes.There's nothing for the state of SC to be embarrassed about,that is already on the shoulders and in the hearts of the Sanford family.By the way,I'm from NC and unless SC seceded from the union ,why keep raking him over the coals .I'm sure if something had happened in your governors absence,he had left a phone number with someone.He's not the only man that has been found out; and he wont be the last to get side-tracked.Now all of you,get on the right path,do your jobs,hold each other up in prayer,and by all means back off your holier-than-thou attitudes.I don't know any of the Sanford family,but I've prayed and cried over this for so long,I'm now leaving it with God bless the first family of SC and the people therein. Thank you,from the State just to your north,You all come.Patty

This Sanford guy has to get over his fantasy world. Maybe fumigation after arriving back in the USA from So. America. You can tell he doesn't have much of a brain. But then Argentina lady must have covinced him of that fantasy also. Go away Sanford. You don't even realize you've embarrassed yourself, your family, you state and you are an on going joke for America. It's over. Go away.