The details of 37 ethics charges against South Carolina Republican Gov. Mark Sandford were released Monday. Sanford has been under scrutiny since he vanished for five days over the summer before reappearing from a trip to see his Argetinian lover and admitting to an extramarital affair. He is accused of breaking ethics laws by using taxpayer money for airline seats, taking state planes for personal and political trips and occasionally using his campaign chest to reimburse himself for travel.
The civil charges, which carry a maximum $74,000 in fines, stem from a three-month investigation by the State Ethics Commission and could be pivotal in a push by some lawmakers to remove him from office. The state attorney general is deciding whether the governor would face any criminal charges.
Each of the counts claims Sanford used his office for personal financial gain and carries a maximum $2,000 fine if he is found guilty.
Sanford's attorney expressed confidence that the charges even with a finding of guilty do not "rise anywhere near to the traditional standard of impeachment".
Before his recent troubles, Sanford had been mentioned as a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2012.
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