Deciding Sanford question

COLUMBIA -- After just a year in the state Legislature, Summerville Rep. Jenny Anderson Horne has been called on to help undertake a task that hasn't been carried out in the halls of the Statehouse for more than 130 years.

Like the six others who share the responsibility of being the first to consider Gov. Mark Sanford's impeachment, Horne said she is aware of the gravity of her position.

"I understand the historical implication," Horne, a Republican, said. "I feel an enormous responsibility for the people of this state to make the right decision."

See our special section on Governor Mark Sanford

The special House Judiciary Subcommittee will continue its work Tuesday. The members are expected to send the full Judiciary Committee, made up of 25 House members, their recommendation by Dec. 9. The subcommittee could use procedural moves to kill the impeachment resolution. But with many members of the full committee awaiting their chance to discuss impeachment, it is unlikely the subcommittee will block it.

Just one other impeachment attempt is known in South Carolina's history. The House voted in the 1870s to remove the governor from office, but the measure failed.

Only 16 governors in the United States have ever been impeached.

Sanford is in this position following his clandestine trip to Argentina in June to see his mistress. Questions immediately arose about whether he left the state leaderless and vulnerable in the event there had been a disaster. More questions about the governor's travel quickly followed; and, after an investigation, the Ethics Commission charged Sanford with 37 possible violations.

He faces a closed-door administrative hearing on the charges, which is expected to be scheduled in January. Attorney General Henry McMaster also is reviewing the ethics investigation for possible criminal charges. McMaster, a Republican who is running for governor, has given no word on when to expect his decision.

The House subcommittee will review all the evidence and may call for testimony.

Speaker Bobby Harrell, a Charleston Republican, wants to guide the Judiciary members through their deliberations before the Legislature returns in January with a full agenda.

He hears from House members on both sides of the impeachment question and wants to make sure their voices are heard while trying to keep politics and personal vendettas out of the process.

"The House of Representatives is about to set a precedent for good or for ill," Harrell said. "What we do on this issue will be looked back on by future legislatures as a precedent on how this is handled, so it is incredibly important that we get it right."

Sanford would be suspended from office if two-thirds of the House votes to impeach him. The Senate then would serve as jury in the matter with South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal presiding.

In selecting the seven members of the subcommittee, Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Harrison, a Columbia Republican, said he wanted to ensure the members reflected racial, gender and geographic diversity. Chosen were four Republicans and three Democrats.

Horne is the only woman on the panel and Rep. David Weeks, a Sumter Democrat and chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, is the only member who is not white.

Weeks said he thinks he was selected because of his ability to be impartial. All members of the subcommittee have only made neutral comments publicly on the matter of impeachment, except Rep. Greg Delleney, a Chester Republican. Delleney is the lead sponsor of the resolution to impeach Sanford.

Weeks said over the years that he has sharply disagreed with Sanford, but he said he won't let those disagreements influence his judgment.

"I am looking forward to making sure that I get it right," Weeks said.

Like Weeks, Rep. Walt McLeod, a Little Mountain Democrat, has served as a judge. Both men are attorneys.

"This is a political process, it's true, but a process that must afford a fundamental fairness," McLeod said.

Rep. Garry Smith, a Simpsonville Republican, called on Sanford to resign, but Smith said asking the governor to resign and impeaching him are two different matters. Both the House Republican and Democratic caucuses have asked for Sanford's resignation.

"We are looking at setting the bar for all elected officials going forward and what is an impeachable offense and what is not," Smith said. "I think that is a huge part of the consideration for this."

The governor has said he will not resign and maintains that a thorough review of his record will show that he did right by the taxpayers. Sanford has been invited to testify before the subcommittee if he wishes, but an appearance before the panel has not been scheduled.

Reach Yvonne Wenger at ywenger@postandcourier.com or 803-926-7855.