STATE — Gov. Mark Sanford will not face impeachment for allegations relating to his travel expenses and trip to Argentina last summer.

A House subcommittee voted down a resolution to impeach the government 6-1 Wednesday, with only Rep. Greg Delaney, the resolution’s author, voting yes.

The vote came after the subcommittee dismissed from their deliberations 32 of the 37 allegations of ethics violations that came out of an Ethics Commission probe of the governor’s travel records and expenses.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell agreed with the subcommittee’s decision.

"The threshold for removal from office is a very high standard, and from the evidence made available to them, it does not appear that the Governor’s actions have met that threshold for removal from office,” Harrell said. “While his actions were clearly revealed to be irresponsible, misguided and hypocritical, the Subcommittee found that they did not reach the Constitutional definition of serious crimes or serious misconduct necessary to remove the Governor from office.”

Harrell also backed another committee decision — censuring the governor for his actions.

“The Governor’s actions brought great shame upon himself, his office, our state government and our citizens,” he said. “This entire situation - the multiple investigations, court cases and media barrage - could have been easily avoided if the Governor had acted in the best interest of our state and resigned from office, as I and a majority of lawmakers urged him to do months ago.

“Instead, the Governor insisted on remaining in office despite the embarrassment and distraction he has brought to our state,” Harrell continued. “A legislative decree condemning the Governor’s irresponsible actions is absolutely warranted.”

Committee members voted unanimously to censure Sanford.

In a statement released Wednesday, Sanford thanked residents “for their kindness and grace.”

“I was encouraged repeatedly in traveling across the state over the last several months by countless people telling me to ‘hang in there,’ and ‘finish strong.’” The people of South Carolina have given me great strength in this adversity I've created for myself, and I want to again thank them for it.”

Sanford agreed with the dismissal of the 32 ethics charges.

From the beginning I acknowledged my moral failing, and I apologized repeatedly,” Sanford said. “But in the same breath I said, as real as that was, what has been suggested with regard to supposedly not watching out for the taxpayer was just not correct; and that if there had been any oversight, it was minor and technical in nature.

“We are confident that the remaining five allegations will be dismissed just as the 32 were, because we have consistently tried to be true to the taxpayer,” he continued. “This has not changed, and it will not change.”

Although the House subcommittee dismissed many of the ethics allegations, Sanford could still face judicial action from both the Ethics

Commission and the Attorney General’s office regarding the original 37 alleged ethics violations, said Greg Foster, a spokesman for Harrell.

The subcommittee’s recommendation will be sent to the House Judiciary Committee for a full vote.