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COLUMBIA -- The attorney for Gov. Mark Sanford said Thursday a state ethics panel found that 3 percent of the governor's flights may have violated state law.

According to Butch Bowers, the State Ethics Commission reviewed 772 flights taken by Governor Sanford. The commission also questioned 2 percent of Sanford's 622 campaign expenditures.

Bowers said the governor looks forward to presenting evidence to the commission to address any remaining questions they have. 

"The results of the Commission’s exhaustive investigation confirm what we have said all along – that Governor Sanford has been a good steward of public resources and has worked hard to ensure his administration adheres to both the letter and the spirit of the law," said Bowers. 

Bowers said Governor Sanford plans to release a copy of the commission's investigative report to House Speaker Bobby Harrell next week. A spokesman for Harrell criticized that timetable and said the document should be released immediately.

"This is a public document as of yesterday when the Commission gave it to the Governor.  It should have been made available to all South Carolinians then, not next week," said Harrell spokesman Greg Foster.

The state Supreme Court ruled November 5 the governor waived his right to privacy when he wrote the court claiming a desire to make the investigation public and transparent. According to Harrell, the governor's decision not to release his copy of the report violates that pledge.

“We are disappointed that Governor Sanford has broken his transparency promise by keeping this court-ordered public document secret.  After claiming to be a leader in the transparency movement and heavily criticizing others on this issue, the Governor’s insistence on secrecy goes against all his past actions on this issue," said Harrell.

Questions about Sanford's use of state, private and commercial planes arose earlier this year after he disappeared from the state in June and said he had been in Argentina visiting his mistress.

The Wednesday decision by the State Ethics Commission follows a three-month investigation. Commissioners did not reveal details about their findings or how they concluded there was probable cause for an ethics hearing early next year.

Associated Press investigations found Sanford violated bans on using state planes for personal and political purposes and sitting in pricey commercial seats.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)