In a press conference with reporters, Knotts said he is actually calling for two investigations - one by the state's law enforcement agency, and the other by the State Senate Judiciary Committee with "full subpoena power."
"Irrational behavior. Lies, lies, lies. It's time that the truth to come out," said Knotts. "Like Joe Brown said, you can lie, but you can't hide... Everybody has found out where he's been hiding. In Argentina."
Knotts said he wants the investigation to focus on "the misappropriation of taxpayer money, malfeasance in office, misconduct in office and all the area surrounding the recent behavior concerning the governor's office." The investigation also would include the question of whether Sanford's office may have been deliberately misleading about the governor's whereabouts during his absence.
Knotts added he is not yet calling on Sanford to resign, but said the embattled governor is "in the fast lane to make that decision, along with numerous other legislators that I have talked to on the phone."
Later, in an interview with CNN, Knotts said he would take Sanford's resignation "in a heartbeat."
From CNN Politics
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The next tidbit they're going to discover is the alleged "mistress" isn't even a mistress at all. It's a mister.
Good to see a man with spine. Let the rogue governor go...
That's because he slept with a SPY and shared secrets. Along with using OUR $$ for "government" sponsored trips. Governors all ALL states need to stay in our country. They have NO business traveling on OUR $$. We have enough freeloading senators and congressional representatives doing that for us.
If Republican leaders, some of the most self-righteous people ever, do not force Sanford out of office (either for having the affair or for using state funds to pay for it, or for both), then the Republican Party will have nothing left to run on.
Btw, Vitter, Ensign, and Craig are still in office, and the Republican Party already appears to stand for nothing.
God, I love it when the elephants start to turn on each other.
A criminal investigation may be warrented. Same for palin and her use of state funds. Will any Alaskans be dumn enough to vote for her ever again?
Courtesy of Avi: "People lighten up, he broke no law".
__________________
Avi, that's right! He only broke his non-essential marriage vow. That silly certificate means nothing; and as to South Carolina, they can run themselves with vigilantes for a couple of days while Señor Romeo tangos with Señorita Julieta, so who needs a governor? Anything goes in the good ol' USA.. Ay dios mio!!!!
Noticed the article on Palin was closed for comments except from the liberals, way to go again CNN, maybe you are with the majority and just rope a doping the libs. There is so much anger at the democrats, libs and Obama and you keep hiding it to make them smug and thinking they are the majority. Nice job.
hope they can nail sanford to the wall for abandoning his post as governor, the state, and those that voted for him. sanford should be tossed out of office. if sanford was honorable, fat chance since he cheated on his wife by falling in love and more, he would resign. wonder if he too is a christian promise keeper like senator ensign of nevada who also has been cheating on his wife. it continues to be the GOP's most finest times.
I don't understand why CNN posted this story. It does have one negative thing to say about Governor Sarah Palin? I thought that was a requirement of The National Enquierer.....er.... I mean CNN.
Oh boy- alright investigation! As long as he does not resign- this is better theater that Sarah Palin!
The guy thinks he like King David and living in the Thornbirds-
Another laugh a minute from the family values crowd! Too bad is so close on the heels of Sen. Ensign because he still has some good speeches left I am sure.
The emails are so choice clear down to the tan line drooling- much more sophisticated than Mark Foleys- and the true love it kind of remains you of our good buddy Rev. Haggard. And life is SO tough trying to refuse stimulous money and all the stresses he has like his wife kicked him out of the house.
Where are all of the out cries for this guy to go ahead and step down?
Mr. High and mighty wanted to leave his citizens with out stimulus help, while he illigalley takes sex trips. The Party of real, red blooded Americans, True Americans, Values has done it again.
Salacious as Gov. Sanfords "tale" is, it is lacking in only one thing: the facts. How many times have you heard it asked: "Why did he have such a public meeting to confess all?," and "Did anyone check his passport, when he left the country?" and "Did his staff know where he was?" and, "How could he have composed such beautiful love letters (emails)?" These are just a few of the unanswered questions that most people would be demanded to answer. So, why is the media giving this sleaze-ball a pass? Do they just not want to know the truth? Consider this: the whole narrative was scripted to detract the media, the public and other officials from questioning the real reason he frequents Argentina, such as to meet with foreign agents who are helping him to craft and launch an extremist right-wing agenda for the USA. It is certainly easier to admit to an affair than it would be to treason! We need hard answers to all of the above questions and in addition: Who did he meet with in Argentina, and for what reason. I doubt that the truth would be that "romantic."
Pretty bad when your own Party is beating you up.
Let's hope this will be resolved quickly because it does neither the state nor his family any good. I am no judge, but the story is too fishy even for the ocean. This is a little tip for anyone in his office who was privy to his whereabouts and told a little white lie referring to the Appalachians: Pssst, just say that it was the ANDES MOUNTAINS, and that you had a slip of the lip. Case closed!
I thought that Pailn article was about the dumb chick pulling a Dick Cheney.
I started to fear the worst.
This is what comes of forbidding sex before marriage. Typical post 1950s scenario. You don't mess around, you wonder what you missed, you cheat, you divorce. Sanford should resign and go to BA if he is in love. You only live once. Too bad his conservative ideology ruined his life. Have fun. Have sex!
Jack in Des Moines,
Please stop spamming the blogs with your Palin line. If you don't like CNN go to Fox. I'm sure it's Palin all day everyday over there.
This is how rumers get started. The Governor never said that he was going to the Appalachian trail, he said he was getting some "Argentinean tail"
Nice to see at least one Republican being consistent, rather than acting like it's a moral outrage when Democrats are adulterous but tragic when Republicans do it. I'm so tired of them screaming about Democrats destroying the moral fabric of this country but then being so compassionate and understanding when it's one of their guys. The hypocrisy has to stop.
"There is so much anger at the democrats, libs and Obama and you keep hiding it to make them smug and thinking they are the majority."
In case you hadn't noticed, we won. We ARE the majority. Thanks for pointing that out, awaitingliberalizationbyCNN. This must be burning your butt.
Far be it from me to defend any Republican, but I gotta say that I really feel for Sanford - unlike most other politicians in sex scandals, Sanford seemed sincere in his press conference and genuinely in pain. You could see on his face that, right or wrong, he really loves this woman in Argentina and he knows that there is no happy ending here, that everybody involved loses. I'm not saying what he did was right, but geez, give the guy a break – we're all only human...
hey,jake knotts..........shutup and put your ugly face in a chair.
What was appropriate for Eliot Spitzer (a much more effective governor), should certainly apply to Sanford.
Fidelity issues aside, there is an odor to this that should be cleared.
republicans should call investigations on them selves