GOV. SEEKS TO SUPPRESS REPORT AFTER COMMISSION DENIES REQUEST

South Carolina’s highest court Monday began hearing arguments over who should and should not have access to a State Ethics Commission investigation of Gov. Mark Sanford.

The State Supreme Court will rule in response to Sanford’s request that the General Assembly not receive copies of a preliminary report of the governor’s possible ethics violations after the commission denied the request.

In a legal brief, lawyers for the governor argued that legislators, who are considering impeaching Sanford, could use the findings for political purposes.

The Ethics Commission, however, said Sanford’s attempts to suppress the results of their investigation into him were premature and that they had not yet decided whether or not to give the preliminary findings to lawmakers. Sanford appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court.

The Ethics Commission is investigating claims that Sanford misused state aircraft and other resources as well as campaign money. The investigations were spurred on by scorned members of the media following Sanford’s disappearance and revelation of an extramarital affair.