Sanford to face charges

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will face charges he violated state laws, according to an ethics panel ruling Wednesday that came after its three-month investigation into his use of state, commercial and private airplanes and his campaign finance practices.

The State Ethics Commission did not provide details of its decision or the specific charges the governor would face during a hearing of the panel early next year. Sanford’s lawyer, however, predicted he would be cleared and said none of the charges are criminal but “limited to minor, technical matters.”

Questions about Sanford’s use of state, private and commercial planes arose after he disappeared from the state in June and admitted he had been in Argentina visiting his mistress.