COLUMBIA -- Sen. Tom Davis, a longtime friend and former chief of staff to Gov. Mark Sanford, has been sticking up for the embattled governor, but today the Beaufort County senator said he expects “to form my official position very shortly.”

Calls for Sanford’s resignation have been growing among Democrats and Republicans in Columbia, as the Republican governor confessed to additional meetings with his Argentine mistress.

“I have met today with the governor and members of his staff, I have had telephone conversations with my friend, Jenny Sanford, I have talked with the governor’s legislative supporters and opponents,” said Davis, a Republican who was elected last fall to represent Beaufort County.

“I have talked with key reform leaders who have been fighting for the issues I believe in, fiscal responsibility, limited government, market principles and individual liberty,” he said in a statement Wednesday.

Davis said he was waiting for the outcome of the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division probe, which began at the request of S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster.

SLED is investigating Sanford’s travel records to determine whether the governor broke the law. Davis said he expected to know the results by Thursday.

“I can assure you that whatever official position I ultimately reach will be one that I truly believe to be in the best interests of the people of Beaufort County in particular and the state of South Carolina in general,” said Davis.

The 49-year-old attorney received repeated apologies from Sanford during his emotional press conference last week and has been interviewed on Larry King Live and ABC News.

Sarita Chourey can be reached at (803) 727-4257 or sarita.chourey@morris.com.