South Carolina high court says Sanford's ethics probe is public

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford answer questions from the media at the meeting of the National Governor's Association after the governors spoke with President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice-President -Elect Joe Biden at Independence Hall December 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (William Thomas Cain, Getty Images)

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 remove the two-term Republican from office.

Sanford had argued the substance of the investigation should be confidential. However, the high court said the governor waived confidentiality, meaning that nearly everything generated by the commission can't be secret.

Sanford's travel has been under scrutiny since he slipped his security detail and skipped the state for five days in June to rendezvous with his Argentine lover. An Associated Press investigation called many of his travel practices into question.

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