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Sanford rejects Bauer's call for his resignation

Governor says he still has work to do

By Tim Smith
Capital bureau

COLUMBIA - Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday refused a suggestion by Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer hours earlier to resign, calling it "politics, pure and simple."

"I'm not going to be railroaded out of office by political opponents," Sanford told Bauer by letter and to reporters in his office.

Sanford said while it would be "heaven on earth" to leave the "circus" environment that he now deals with each day, it would be wrong because so much works remains to be done.

He also said he wants to avoid a "rewrite" of history by letting accusations go that he has improperly used state resources, including state aircraft.

"While some political opponents might wish to take advantage of the accusations against our administration, I believe the responsible thing to do is lay out all the facts in response to the very incomplete picture presented in media claims," he wrote Bauer.

The governor's travel on state aircraft and commercial flights has raised questions in recent weeks following his secret, five day trip to Argentina and his public disclosure June 24 of a year-long affair with an Argentine woman.

His wife and four sons have since moved out of the Governor's Mansion, and first lady Jenny Sanford told Vogue magazine in a story published last week that she believes her husband has been "obsessed" with the other woman and has been going through a midlife crisis.

Earlier Wednesday, Bauer, a fellow Republican who has not been a political ally of the governor, held a press conference and said he was asking Sanford to resign for the good of the state.

Bauer cited "serious misconduct" by Sanford in asking him to step down as well as "continuing distractions," which he said make it impossible for the state to move forward.

Bauer promised he would forgo his own plans to run for governor if Sanford resigns in the next month or the Legislature takes impeachment action by then.

Bauer, 40, floated a similar idea before lawmakers earlier this summer but did not make a public offer such as the one he did Wednesday.

He would not detail what he considers "serious misconduct," the wording used in the state's constitution for impeachment, but said it is clear Sanford is absorbed in his defense and that makes "it virtually impossible for our state to solve the serious problems we are facing without a change of leadership."

Bauer's comments came three days before House Republicans plan to discuss impeachment at a caucus retreat in Myrtle Beach.

Two House GOP leaders said Wednesday they do not believe Bauer's statements will impact impeachment talk by House members.

Rep. Bruce Bannister of Greenville, assistant House majority leader, said the Legislature cannot come back into session this year to deal with impeachment.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell released a statement on Wednesday calling for Sanford to make a possible State Ethics probe into his travel open by waiving confidentiality.

Sanford has not said what he plans to do about the confidentiality issue. His spokesman said in recent days he can't answer what the governor's plans are in respect to the issue or whether the governor has been notified the agency is investigating him.

The exchange between Bauer and Sanford comes the day after two of Sanford's top allies in the House - Rep. Nathan Ballentine of Irmo and Rep. Gary Simrill of Rock Hill - met with the governor for 40 minutes to suggest he resign and that impeachment action appears certain.

Ballentine said Sanford wants to counter critics by telling people around the state what he believes is the truth concerning questions over his travel.