Senate Probe: S.C. Gov. Broke Law on State Travel

WASHINGTON (AP) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford broke state law when he charged taxpayers for more expensive business and first-class flights, says the chairman of the legislative committee investigating Sanford's international travel.

State Sen. David Thomas, whose budget committee investigated Sanford's flights following reports last month by The Associated Press, says he will release evidence to lawmakers showing the Republican governor violated state laws requiring the cheapest travel possible.

Thomas says legislators can consider sanctions ranging from demanding reimbursement to impeachment for Sanford's use of more expensive state-paid flights to China and London.

Sanford has said he will remain in office after admitting an affair with an Argentine woman.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)