Davis says Sanford can still lead, urges new focus on state's pressing concerns

State Sen. Tom Davis said Friday he tried earlier this week to convince Gov. Mark Sanford to resign but decided not to call for his job publicly after the embattled governor and his wife assured him Sanford can lead the state even as he tries to mend his marriage.

Now, it is time to get on with other state business, the Beaufort Republican says.

Davis, Sanford's longtime friend and former chief of staff, met with the governor Wednesday morning, part of a two-day trip during which he spoke with other state officials to determine if the governor broke any laws when he met with his Argentine paramour.

Convinced that he did not, Davis on Friday issued a statement that said in part, "unless any new facts are disclosed, I think it is time for me and other public officials to get back to work on the serious challenges facing our state."

If Sanford wants to remain in office, he should be able to, Davis reiterated Friday in an interview with the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

"After (Sanford's) AP interview on Tuesday, in which he had detailed encounters with other women in the past and the words he used to describe the woman in Argentina, I was afraid that spending time in office could impair his efforts to reconcile" with wife Jenny Sanford, Davis said.

"He assured me he could reconcile with Jenny while remaining in office. I spoke with Jenny and she said the same thing," Davis added.

State Law Enforcement Division Director Reggie Lloyd also told Davis that he was sure Sanford did not encourage state officials to include Argentina in a trade trip during which Sanford visited María Belén Chapur. Sanford said he has known the divorced mother of two for several years and that they have been involved in an affair for about a year.

"It was (Lloyd's) opinion, unequivocally, that Sanford did not use public funds improperly," Davis said.

Next, Davis met with Attorney General Henry McMaster to research whether Sanford violated the constitution by being out of contact without abdicating his executive authority.

"There were no dereliction of duty, no statue and no constitutional violations by the governor," Davis and McMaster concluded.

Thoroughly satisfied there is no need to investigate further and convinced by his friends that they will be able to work to preserve their marriage, Davis believes it's time to get back to work.

He also acknowledged in his statement that Sanford" has no margin for further error in this particular matter. South Carolina simply cannot afford any additional embarrassment."