Sanford’s wife, political realities helped put calls for resignation to rest

The evolving scandal
What has happened since Gov. Mark Sanford returned from Argentina

June 24
6:15 a.m. A reporter for The State finds Sanford at the Atlanta airport, getting off a flight from Buenos Aires. The governor admits he had not, as his staff had reported, been on the Appalachian Trial. Sanford says he has been alone, driving the Argentine coast.

About 11 a.m. The State informs the governor’s office it has e-mails that detail an extramarital relationship between Sanford and a woman from Argentina. Sanford already has called a 2 p.m. news conference.

2:20 p.m. A tearful Sanford admits he has been having an affair. He apologizes to his lover, his wife and the public and says he is resigning his chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association. He later says he will not step down as governor.

June 25
Sanford admits seeing his lover on a state-funded trip to Brazil and Argentina in June 2008. He pledges to pay back the state’s expenses for the Argentine leg of that trip.

June 26
Sanford goes back to work, holding a Cabinet meeting, during which he again apologizes. He again says he will not resign.

June 30
Sanford tells The Associated Press his Argentine lover is his soul mate, describes the affair as a tragic love story and admits he’s seen her more times than previously disclosed. Sanford says he’s trying to fall back in love with his wife and adds he has “crossed the line” with other women. Sanford also repays $3,300 of the more than $8,000 cost of his 2008 trip to South America.

July 1
Calls for Sanford to resign grow to a majority of state Senate Republicans after his additional confessions about his lover and other women. Some friends approach Sanford about stepping down, but the governor emphatically rejects the calls to quit.

July 2
A SLED inquiry clears Sanford of any criminal wrongdoing on his trips to see his lover. First lady Jenny Sanford issues a statement saying she is willing to forgive her husband.

July 3
Sanford leaves for a Florida vacation, joining his wife and children.

Monday
A majority of the S.C. Republican Party’s executive committee votes to censure Sanford. The action condemns his actions but does not call for the governor to resign. Sanford returns to work.

Thursday
A State House rally to urge Sanford to resign draws just 60 people.

This week
Sanford’s office is expected to release records, requested by media outlets, about the governor’s spending, communications and other subjects.

Road to impeachment
Barring additional revelations, Gov. Mark Sanford is unlikely to face impeachment. Here is what would have to happen for a South Carolina governor to be forced from office:
• The S.C. House of Representatives must act as the accusatory body, with at least one member requesting the governor be impeached. Two-thirds of representatives must agree the governor either has committed a “serious crime” or “serious misconduct.”
• There is no legal definition for either a “serious crime” or “serious misconduct.” It’s up to lawmakers to interpret.
• The state Senate then weighs in. Two-thirds of senators must agree with the House. If they do, the governor is removed from office.

The GOP on Sanford

How key Republicans weighed in on the governor’s future

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham
Graham, who served in Congress with Sanford and is the godfather of one of his sons, has been one of Sanford’s chief defenders publicly. Graham spoke face to face with Sanford the day many Republicans were calling for him to step down.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint
DeMint, who also served with Sanford in Congress, expressed his disappointment with the governor and encouraged him to “do the right thing.” Even when pressed, DeMint would not define what action he considered “the right thing.” DeMint said he spoke to Sanford about his future but would not divulge details.

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett
Barrett, who is running for governor, became the highest-ranking elected official to call for Sanford to resign. Barrett took his stand after Sanford’s Associated Press interview in which Sanford disclosed additional trips to see his Argentine lover and admitted “crossing the line” with other women.

S.C. Sen. Tom Davis
The Beaufort senator is a friend of Sanford’s and served as his chief of staff. Davis said Sanford should finish his term, basing his view on a SLED report that said the governor did not spend public money to see his mistress and on first lady Jenny Sanford’s willingness to forgive the governor.
Karen Floyd, S.C. Republican Party chairwoman

Floyd said publicly after Sanford admitted an affair that he should consider stepping down. After the state GOP executive committee voted to censure Sanford and not ask for his resignation, Floyd stood by the vote.

S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell
Harrell, who would have to engineer an impeachment effort, has not called for the governor to resign. Harrell is supporting legislation that would make clear when the governor must transfer power in his absence.

S.C. Senate President Pro-Tem Glenn McConnell
McConnell said Sanford has lost the support of the people needed to govern and should consider stepping down.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer
Bauer has said Sanford’s future is his choice. But friends of Bauer have called for the governor to step down.

3 reasons why calls for Gov. Mark Sanford to resign ultimately didn’t work

. JENNY SANFORD: Gov. Mark Sanford’s wife, Jenny, stepped to his defense by publicly saying she was willing to forgive him and privately assuring key lawmakers the Sanfords could get past their problems while the governor finished his term.

2. NO CRIME: When state law enforcement officials found Sanford broke no laws, calls for the governor to resign slowed. Believing there would be no criminal charges and no additional embarrassments Republican leaders looked anew at Sanford in week two of the scandal. They voted to censure the governor, condemning his actions. They did not call for him to resign.

3. NOT ENOUGH ANGRY REPUBLICANS: Sanford made it clear he planned to complete his term. So long as Republican leaders never spoke in a unified voice demanding Sanford resign, the governor knew he could not be forced out. Impeachment is a difficult process, and lawmakers are convinced Sanford would survive.

Read on.