COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina's Supreme Court says the ethics investigation into Gov. Mark Sanford's travel can't be kept secret.
The ruling Thursday clears the way for an investigative report by the Ethics Commission to be given to lawmakers who are considering whether to attempt to remove the embattled two-term Republican from office.
Sanford had argued the substance of the investigation should be confidential, but the high court said the governor's agreement to waive confidentiality meant that nearly everything generated by the commission can't be secret.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell has said lawmakers will not move forward until they see the report on Sanford's use of state planes for personal and political purposes and other travel and campaign finance issues.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
