Sanford Impeachment Resolution To Be Introduced

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The South Carolina House will formally receive an impeachment resolution on Gov. Mark Sanford.
It's the first bill that will be pre-filed Tuesday as the House opens the door to new legislation ahead of its January session beginning.
State Rep. Greg Delleney of Chester left the bill on the House desk last month when the House met in a brief, two-day session to deal with unemployment benefits and perks aimed at bringing Boeing Co. jobs to South Carolina.
Delleney said the bill will be the first one in the stack of legislation and it already has three co-sponsors and others may sign on after Tuesday.
Delleney says Sanford needs to be impeached because he abandoned the state to rendezvous with an Argentine lover and embarrassed South Carolina.

Below is the text of the pre-filed bill

A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO PROVIDE THAT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XV, SECTION 1, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THE HONORABLE MARSHALL C. SANFORD, JR., IS IMPEACHED FOR SERIOUS MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE.

Whereas, Governor Mark Sanford was absent from the State of South Carolina and from the United States from Thursday, June 18, 2009, until Wednesday, June 24, 2009, while in or in route to and from Argentina for reasons unrelated to his gubernatorial responsibilities; and

Whereas, from Thursday, June 18, 2009, until at least on or about Monday, June 22, 2009, Governor Sanford was not in official communication with any person in the chain of command within the Office of the Governor of the State of South Carolina; and

Whereas, the Lieutenant Governor was not aware of the Governor's absence from the State and there was no established chain of command or protocol for the exercise of the executive authority of the State; and

Whereas, the Governor intentionally and clandestinely evaded South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents assigned to secure his safety in order to effect his absence from the State; and

Whereas, the Governor directed members of his staff in a manner that caused them to deceive and mislead the public officials of the State of South Carolina as well as the public of the State of South Carolina as to the Governor's whereabouts; and

Whereas, the purpose of the Governor's absence from the State of South Carolina served no furtherance of his duties as Governor; and

Whereas, the Governor's conduct in being absent from the State of South Carolina under these circumstances constitutes a dereliction of his duties as Governor; and

Whereas, the Governor's conduct under these circumstances has brought extreme dishonor and shame to the Office of the Governor of South Carolina and to the reputation of the State of South Carolina, and furthermore, has caused the Office of the Governor of South Carolina and the State of South Carolina to suffer ridicule resulting in extreme shame and disgrace; and

Whereas, the Governor's conduct and actions under these circumstances constitute serious misconduct in office pursuant to and for the purposes of Article XV, Section 1, of the Constitution of this State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That pursuant to Article XV, Section 1, of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, the Governor of South Carolina, the Honorable Marshall C. Sanford, Jr., is impeached for serious misconduct in office.