(AP) -- South Carolina legislators upset with Gov. Mark Sanford's summer disappearance to see his lover in Argentina have begun debating a measure that ultimately would remove him from office.
Seven lawmakers from the House Judiciary Committee began a hearing Tuesday afternoon into Sanford's five-day absence and failure to put someone in charge of the state while he was gone. The Republican faces new ethics charges about his travel and campaign finances. But this week's debate is focused solely on the contention Sanford was derelict in his duty and wrong to mislead staffers into thinking he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Sanford has been under scrutiny since admitting to an extramarital affair with the woman he has called his "soul mate." His final term expires in 2011.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
