This is news that's developing about Republican governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford, as just reported by the AP.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina lawmakers plan to formally consider impeaching Gov. Mark Sanford for the first time next week, the chairman of the committee beginning that work said Friday.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison told The Associated Press he is appointing an ad-hoc committee of four Republicans and three Democrats who will begin meeting Tuesday. He said he expects to have a resolution to impeach ready before Christmas for the full Judiciary Committee to consider.
It seems like Governor Sanford thought he could just quietly ride out the political firestorm he created. Five months later, however, it appears as if consequences are catching up to him.
Just in case you were on the Moon back in June, I'll briefly remind you of what happened.
Mark Sanford seemed to drop off the face of the earth for five days. Though he had apparently told his staff and family that he was going to hike the Appalachian trail, the reality is that he had secretly flown to Argentina to meet up with a woman with whom he was having an affair.
Sordid scandalous nature of the incident aside, blinding hypocrisy of a family values conservative being caught in such a situation aside, the real problem legally is probably that he essentially abandoned his post for five days without informing anyone, and so for that time, the state effectively lacked a chief executive.
So over the next month or so, we may find out more details about the actual articles of impeachment that the South Carolina House Judiciary Committee drafts against Sanford. Additionally, this could be a not-so-subtle suggestion from fellow Republicans that Sanford resign and not go down the road of a full impeachment.
At any rate, things aren't looking bright for Sanford's near-term career prospects.