S.C. House speaker calls for Sanford to resign

Add state House Speaker Bobby Harrell to the list of Republicans pining South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) to resign his office.

"It was with much thought and trepidation that I came to this conclusion," Harrell explained in a statement released Tuesday. "I did so only after I spoke with colleagues in the Legislature, talked with leaders in our communities, heard from numerous citizens from across the state and carefully reviewed the facts surrounding the situation." 

"What has become clear is that Governor Sanford's issues will continue to dominate our state as long as he remains in office," Harrell added. "Whether he should be removed from office is a question that will need to be answered from the State Ethics Commission investigation, but our state's future is too important to have the governor's issues overshadow everything we do for the next fifteen months."

Despite the mounting pressire, Sanford has insisted he intends to finish his term as governor.