Sanford impeachment panel expands scope, schedules more meetings

The possible impeachment of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will be drawn out for at least a few more weeks. An impeachment panel adjourned today without taking any action. The impeachment resolution was introduced before the state Ethics Commission filed 37 charges against the governor. But the subcommittee voted unanimously to consider those ethics charges in addition to the governor's trip to Argentina to visit his mistress. State Rep. Greg Delleney says the secret getaway is enough to remove Sanford from office. "He left his post, he left his state, he left his country without notifying anyone in authority. He was in effect AWOL," Delleney told the panel. The panel will have at least three more meetings in the next two weeks. The House Judiciary Committee hopes to make a decision on impeachment before the Legislature convenes in January. Meanwhile, the governor's office has hired Connecticut attorney Ross Garber. Garber represented former Connecticut Governor John Rowland when he faced impeachment in 2004. Taxpayers will pick up the tab.