Updated July 7, 2:34 p.m.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina Democratic leaders are criticizing a state GOP vote to publicly reprimand Gov. Mark Sanford, rather than ask him to resign, as a meaningless move that
provides him cover to stay in office.
The state Republican Party's executive committee voted late Monday to censure Sanford for failing to be a good Republican and for breaking the public's trust. The censure's wording did not
specify how Sanford fell "below the standards expected of Republican elected officials."
The vote came nearly two weeks after Sanford returned from a mysterious disappearance and admitted he had been in Argentina with his mistress. Sanford says he will not resign.
GOP officials say the vote ended the matter, and they're moving on - a declaration Democratic leaders found amusing.
Posted July 7, 9:44 a.m.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Fellow Republicans have censured South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford after he left the state last month on a secret trip to Argentina to meet his mistress.
The state GOP met for more than three hours by phone Monday before 22 members of the executive committee voted to formally reprimand Sanford. Ten others voted to ask him to resign, while
nine voted to support him.
In a statement, Sanford says he appreciates the party's position and will continue to work to earn back its trust.
Sanford might have survived a state probe last week into his travel, but plenty of his fellow Republicans say they are still hearing from unhappy constituents.
The governor also has repeatedly said he will serve his remaining 18 months in office.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer said Tuesday the governor has no public events currently scheduled for the remainder of the week. Gov. Sanford will be working in Columbia for the rest of the week, with intermittent trips to Sullivan's Island.
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