CONWAY -- Gov. Mark Sanford made his first public appearance in Horry County since news of his love affair broke in June.
Sanford addressed the media in front of city hall in Conway and spoke to supporters at the Lion's Club luncheon at Ryan's Steakhouse in Conway.
Sanford told the media that he is waiving confidentiality on a possible ethics investigation, meaning the public will be able to find out the results of the probe into whether he misused taxpayer money improperly to pay for trips that weren't business related.
Sanford said he doesn't know if the investigation is underway but said he has nothing to hide and an investigation would show he did not misuse state government money raised by taxes.
“Did I have my moral failure? Absolutely. Is it real? Absolutely. Consequences past, present, future that Jenny and I are trying to work through? Absolutely. But, on this larger notion of airplanes and other, we have a great record to be told and that's why we're going to lay all the cards out. If i had been in your shoes reading all the press accounts that had been there, I’d be thinking what exactly is happening here?” said Sanford.
Sanford added that he believes in full disclosure of government activity.
However, when the press tried to learn more about the ethics investigation and the GOP’s decision to hold a discussion on impeaching him in a caucus meeting on Saturday, Sanford became combative with reporters.
“I'm gonna visit with some friends. I've said what I have to say for the day and, and, what's that?...(Reporter) You're talking full disclosure, did you report private funds on your income taxes?...(Sanford) We're not going to play your game. I don't work for you….I don't work for you,” said Sanford.
Though Sanford would not discuss the caucus meeting or Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer’s request for resignation, after the press conference, he did comment to News13 on the vacancy in the Horry County School Board and who he will appoint after he removed one of its members, Chris Shannon, who was arrested on embezzlement charges in March.
“No, I don't know who I'm going to appoint. I have strong suspicions in that we're leaning toward one particular spot, but through the weekend we'll go ahead and final that process from our end and conversations that we're having with folks down here in the local areas to what they think is best and we'll make a determination next week,” said Sanford.
Sanford said that he is considering state senator Luke Rankin’s letter of recommendation, which encourages Neil James to be selected for the position.
James was nominated by the Horry County school board.
As for the GOP caucus meeting tomorrow, News13 will be covering that for you so stay tuned in to News13 and scnow.com to find out their decision on whether to impeach Sanford.
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