"South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces 37 ethics charges he broke state laws limiting official use of airplanes and involving campaign money," the Associated Press is reporting. It says "the details were released Monday by the State Ethics Commission. They came five days after the panel charged the governor without offering any specifics."

As the AP puts it, "Sanford has been under scrutiny since he vanished for five days over the summer, reappearing to tearfully admit to an extramarital affair with a woman he later called his 'soul mate.' " You might recall the frenzy that occurred when Sanford returned from Argentina to confess his sins.

It's up to the state attorney general to decide if any of the allegations warrant prosecution. Sanford's lawyers have previously said such accusations involve only minor and technical matters.

Tomorrow, a South Carolina House panel opens a hearing on a resolution to impeach the Republican governor.

Update at 2:45 p.m. ET. The AP now adds that:

The civil charges, which carry a maximum $74,000 in fines, stem from a three-month investigation by the state ethics commission and could be pivotal in a push by some lawmakers to remove him from office.