Embattled SC Gov. Mark Sanford faces 37 ethics charges he broke travel, campaign funding laws

SC gov faces 37 ethics charges he broke state laws

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces 37 ethics charges he broke state laws limiting official use of airplanes and involving campaign money.

The details were released Monday by the State Ethics Commission. They came five days after the panel charged the governor without offering any specifics.

Sanford’s lawyers have claimed the charges involve minor and technical aspects of the law.

The charges followed a probe into whether Sanford used state aircraft for personal and political trips, used pricey airline seats despite low-cost travel requirements and reimbursed himself with campaign cash.

Sanford has been under scrutiny since he vanished for five days over the summer, reappearing to tearfully admit to an extramarital affair with a woman he later called his “soul mate.”