South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has called for Greenville County Sheriff Will Lewis to “step aside” and said he would remove the sheriff from office if he could.

The statement from the state's top elected official came a week after Lewis publicly admitted to cheating on his wife with a subordinate and shortly after a host of local and state officials expressed their desire for Lewis to resign.

“It’s clear that Sheriff Will Lewis’ ability to effectively lead one of the state’s largest law enforcement agencies has been compromised by inappropriate actions — actions which he has acknowledged," McMaster said in a statement Friday. "It would be in the public’s best interest for him to voluntarily step aside. If I could remove him from office, I most certainly would.”

Lewis did not respond Friday to a request for comment and previously said he would not comment until the SLED investigation into allegations against him has concluded.

Greenville County Council unanimously passed a resolution at a special meeting this week asking for Lewis to resign. Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant, a Republican who is running against McMaster for governor, said Monday that Lewis should step down.

“It speaks volumes regarding the crisis that our community is currently in so much so that the governor has weighed in,” said Greenville County Councilman Ennis Fant in his first public comment on the situation. “With the lieutenant governor weighing in, the governor weighing in, a unanimous vote from County Council, countless emails from concerned citizens, I think it’s time for this fiasco to end for the sake of the people of Greenville County.”

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Lewis, who has served as sheriff since Jan. 3, can only be removed by the governor and only after an indictment has been issued. If Lewis resigns, McMaster would appoint an interim sheriff and a special election would be held to elect a new sheriff, said County Council Chair Butch Kirven.

Savanah Nabors, a former Sheriff’s Office employee, has accused Lewis in a lawsuit of sexual assault while the two were on a business trip earlier this year in Charlotte, North Carolina. Lewis said he had a "consensual encounter" with a Nabors.

But he has also denied criminal allegations of sexual assault and stalking. Lewis has not been charged with a crime.

The News does not typically identify victims of sexual assault, but Nabors went public with her allegations in a blog on a website earlier this year.

Thom Berry, spokesperson for the State Law Enforcement Division said the investigation is ongoing and there’s no timeline for its completion.

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Lewis' attorney has filed to move the sexual harassment lawsuit against Lewis to the federal level. Attorney Stephanie Burton, who is representing Lewis and the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, filed the notice of removal from state court to federal court this week, court records show. Chuck Taylor, attorney for County Administrator Joe Kernell and Greenville County, consented to the move.

“We were anticipating the case would be removed to federal court,” said Lauren Taylor, an attorney for Nabors.

Wesley Few, a Greenville attorney, said a removal may work in Lewis’ favor.

“Conventional wisdom for a defendant is that you’re more likely to get summary judgment in federal court,” Few said. The process also moves quicker than in civil court."

When SLED concludes its investigation, the findings will be reviewed by the Fifth Judicial Circuit, 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said this week.

Wilkins told The News that SLED had not contacted him about the specifics or merits to the case. He said his office will not be handling the case because of a conflict of interest.

Dan Johnson is the solicitor of the Fifth Circuit, which serves Richland and Kershaw counties. The 13th Circuit covers Greenville and Pickens counties.

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