Francis B. Allgood
fallgood@gsabusiness.com
Published August 27, 2009

A visibly agitated state Sen. David Thomas called Gov. Mark Sanford’s latest news conference “bizarre” after the governor said Thomas, who is chairman of the subcommittee investigating Sanford, is being unfair.

Sanford held a news conference this morning across the street from Thomas’ Greenville law office on Wade Hampton Boulevard. Sanford defended his travel expenses, citing them as being in accordance with previous governors’ expenses, and he said Thomas is unfairly singling him out.

“In response to your letter August 19, 2009, the governor’s office is providing you with information and supporting documents that will illustrate that previous governors, the Department of Commerce, other agencies and legislators have long-standing practices of purchasing business-class airfare for foreign travel, and in some cases, domestic travel,” said a letter submitted to Thomas on Wednesday by Swati S. Patel, chief legal counsel to Sanford.

“This information strongly supports our view that Gov. Sanford and the Department of Commerce during his administration have complied with the applicable travel laws and regulations because the consistent interpretation and application of them by different agencies for over three decades is directly relevant to interpreting those laws and regulations.”

Permitted actions by previous administrations could support Sanford’s defense, Thomas said, but he added that former Govs. Jim Hodges, David Beasley and Carroll Campbell are not being investigated.

Thomas is chairman of the Senate constitutional and administrative subcommittee investigating Sanford for any violation of state regulations.

An Aug. 12 letter from Patel to Thomas said the governor’s office was “willing to work with the subcommittee upon showing of good faith and a commitment to fairness.” But it expressed disappointment in Thomas’ “public allegations without presenting your charges to us and then giving our office and the governor an opportunity to be heard — a basic concept of due process and fundamental fairness.”

One of the lone questions Sanford hasn’t answered is when he will appear before the subcommittee, Thomas said. He said the former governors might also be asked to appear before the subcommittee, although Thomas has no subpoena power.

Thomas said he got the final documents of the first phase of the investigation at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Had he known Sanford would be visiting Greenville today, Thomas said he would have told the governor “thanks,” and “we would have had a Coke.”

“It seems very odd to come here to do a press conference in a field,” Thomas said, calling Sanford’s visit “politically motivated” and a “soap opera.”

Thomas said he was in the governor’s office Wednesday discussing issues related to the S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. He said Sanford’s visit to the Upstate today was designed to shift focus.

“I’m not going to be intimidated by anybody,” Thomas said. “I’m just trying to do my job.”

Thomas is in a crowded Republican race to unseat U.S. Congressman Bob Inglis in the 4th District. He is also joined by 7th Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy, Wofford College professor Christina Jeffrey and Air Force veteran Jim Lee.

Thomas said he considered stepping down from chairmanship of the subcommittee because it might hurt his campaign, but he said he didn’t want to give the Democratic Party an opening to accuse him and the Republican Party of failing to do a proper investigation.

The documents presented to Thomas thus far are for the first phase of a three-phase investigation. The final two phases will explore in-state travel expenses and misuse of personnel, Thomas said.