GOVERNOR WILL TRY TO USE POLITICAL CAPITAL TO PAY LEGAL FEES

He can’t seek another term as governor, and he himself admits that he has no political future, but Mark Sanford still has a lot of money in his campaign account.

According to financial records, the governor has $1.7 million in the bank. And Sanford is going to try to use every bit of it.

But how? And on what? The Associated Press has the answer:

Cathy Hazelwood is the State Ethics Commission general counsel and said Monday that Sanford’s lawyers already have asked the State Ethics Commission if the money can be used for legal fees. Sanford’s spokesman referred questions to the governor’s lawyers, who did not respond immediately to a message seeking comment.

The commission is wrapping up its probe of Sanford’s use of state aircraft for personal and political purposes and other issues. Commission director Herb Hayden says Sanford’s lawyers were responding to the final questions Monday. The investigation will be presented to the commission on Nov. 18.

Just when you think the drawn-out battle between Sanford and the Ethics Commission may finally be at an end, the disgraced governor plays another card.

Of course, whether this latest tactic will be any more successful than his attempt to block access to the commission’s investigation report remains to be seen.