Update:  Tom Davis Statement on Gov. Sanford

4:07 p.m.:  STATEMENT BY TOM DAVIS RE: GOVERNOR MARK SANFORD
I came to Columbia today because I have a responsibility to the taxpayers of Beaufort County and the people of South Carolina.  Obviously I have tremendous concern for my friends, Mark and Jenny Sanford and their family, but I also have a job to do as an elected official.
Before any important decision I make comes due diligence, and I owe it to my constituents to perform that due diligence before taking a public position on an issue as important as whether to call for the resignation of a duly-elected statewide official.
Accordingly, I have met today with the governor and members of his staff; I have had telephone conversations with my friend, Jenny Sanford; I have talked with the governor’s legislative supporters and opponents; and I have talked with key reform leaders who have been fighting for the issues I believe in – fiscal responsibility, limited government, market principles and individual liberty.
I am also planning on speaking today with Attorney General Henry McMaster and SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd, and am I particularly interested in learning the outcome of SLED’s review as to whether the governor has ever illegally used any state funds.  I am told that review will be completed by tomorrow.
Again, this is a critical decision for the State of South Carolina and I want to rely on firsthand conversations, not media reports, rumors, political pressure or speculation.
Based on these conversations, I expect to form my official position very shortly.  But I can assure you that whatever official position I ultimately reach will be one that I truly believe to be in the best interests of the people of Beaufort County in particular and the state of South Carolina in general.
In the meantime, I would encourage all South Carolinians to keep the Sanfords in their thoughts and prayers.

3:55 p.m.:
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has
backed out of a promise to release personal financial records
proving he did not use state money for trips to see his mistress.
Sanford agreed this week to provide the AP with proof of his
payment for trips to New York and Argentina to see her.
His staff first said the records might be made available
Tuesday, and then the governor’s spokesman said Wednesday Sanford
would not release them.

The majority of South Carolina’s state
Senate Republicans are calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to leave
office.
    The growing chorus of lawmakers who’ve publicly announced or
told The Associated Press they want the philandering governor gone
reached 14 Wednesday. There are 27 Republicans in the Senate - a
46-member chamber the party controls.
    The tally shows the erosion of the governor’s support but has no
practical effect. Any impeachment move would have to begin in the
GOP-controlled House.
    However, the Senate is where Sanford has drawn the most support
from lawmakers. The defectors include five of his dozen closest
allies.
    Sanford chronicled his affair with an Argentine woman in
interviews with The Associated Press this week.