COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina lawmakers plan to formally consider the possible impeachment of Gov. Mark Sanford for the first time next week.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison told The Associated Press on Friday that he will gather a seven-member panel on Tuesday to begin discussing whether to begin proceedings that ultimately could remove the Republican governor.

The Columbia Republican says the panel will begin talking about whether Sanford was neglectful when he left he state for five days in June without telling staff where he was going. When he returned, the governor confessed to going to Argentina to see his lover.

Harrison said he plans to send an impeachment resolution to the full Judiciary Committee by Christmas.

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