Gov. Mark Sanford's right to due process will be violated if a state ethics panel investigating him is allowed to give state lawmakers considering his impeachment an early look at its findings, Sanford's lawyers argued to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Sanford's attorneys are asking the state's highest court to block the State Ethics Commission from releasing the report, which is similar to an indictment and does not contain the governor's complete defense.

Ethics Commission attorneys argued Monday the court should dismiss Sanford's lawsuit as premature because the ethics panel has yet to complete or release the report.

S.C. House of Representatives attorneys Monday argued the court should require the Ethics Commission to turn over the report for lawmakers' use in weighing whether or not to impeach Sanford.

The Ethics Commission began investigating Sanford's use of state planes and other public resources and campaign contributions following his secret five-day trip to Argentina in June. The governor later admitted to an extramarital affair.

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