S.C. Agriculture Commissioner Charles Sharpe should consider resigning, a spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford said Friday.

Sanford suspended Sharpe on Thursday, hours after the 65-year-old Republican official was charged with 12 counts of extortion, money laundering and lying to federal investigators about his involvement with a cockfighting operation.

Efforts to reach Sharpe’s attorneys were unsuccessful Friday. But his lawyers said Thursday that Sharpe is innocent.

Will Folks, press secretary for the Republican Sanford, said Friday that resignation is a decision “the governor would leave to the commissioner. Given the strength of the indictment, however, it certainly is an option that would be appropriate to consider.”

However, Democrats criticized Sanford Friday for accepting $2,500 from the cockfighting organization that Sharpe is charged with trying to help in exchange for more than $20,000 in legal and illegal contributions.

Sharpe was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday. He automatically would lose his office if convicted. Sanford is considering whom to appoint as interim commissioner, Folks said.

Also Friday, a government watchdog group asked S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster to bring the Sharpe case before the state grand jury, which has jurisdiction over public corruption.

Common Cause executive director John Crangle said Sharpe might have violated state campaign finance law if he spent political contributions for personal use. The federal indictment alleges Sharpe used campaign money for personal gain.

A spokesman for McMaster, also a Republican, was not immediately available for comment.

The head of the state Republican Party would not comment when asked if Sharpe should step down voluntarily.

Chairman Katon Dawson did say, however, that if Sharpe were a Democrat, he “absolutely” would comment. “Oh, I’d have a comment, I can’t lie to you.”

Democratic Party chairman Joe Erwin did not hesitate.

“I definitely think he ought to resign,” Erwin said. “I think he ought to save his political party and the governor further embarrassment and do the right thing.”

Democrat Erwin also criticized Sanford for taking $2,500 in campaign contributions from the S.C. Gamefowl Management Inc. The group gave Sanford the money the day before the Nov. 5, 2002, election, according to campaign records. Sanford defeated incumbent Gov. Jim Hodges in that election.

“Governor Sanford took money that is tainted by scandal,” Erwin said. “If Sanford were serious about screening his contributions, he never would have taken money from an illegal cockfighting organization in the first place.”

Folks said Sanford’s campaign would have to respond to Erwin’s charge. The campaign did not immediately respond.

Sharpe is accused of:

• Taking money in exchange for trying to convince a police officer that a cockfighting facility in Aiken County was legal

• Falsely telling a candidate for Aiken County sheriff that the facility was legal, according to an opinion from the S.C. Attorney General office.

• Opening a bank account in an attempt to conceal the source of $10,000 he received; and

• Lying about his role in the case to federal and state police.

Sharpe was a member of the S.C. House from 1985 until his election as agriculture commissioner in 2002. From 1995 until 2002, he was chairman of the House agriculture committee.

Friends and former colleagues said they were shocked to learn of Sharpe’s arrest.

“I can’t think of a finer, more honest and ethical person,” said Lexington County political consultant Rod Shealy .

Shealy worked with Sharpe in each of his political campaigns, starting with a failed House bid in 1982. Shealy said he believes Sharpe is innocent of the charges.

“I think some bad guys got caught and are trying to roll over on one of the good guys, who did nothing whatsoever intentionally wrong,” he said.

Rep. Billy Witherspoon, R-Horry, took over as agriculture committee chairman in 2002. Witherspoon and Sharpe also were deskmates in the House.

“I found Charlie to be a reputable individual,” Witherspoon said. “I’m in shock with what I’ve been reading in the newspaper. Charlie Sharpe is my friend. I can say nothing but good about him.”

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com.