COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s elected treasurer, Curtis Loftis, is petitioning the state’s highest court to halt a hearing scheduled for April 21. This hearing intends to initiate the process of removing Loftis from office due to a significant $1.8 billion accounting error that has troubled the state for nearly a decade.
The South Carolina Senate, which is predominantly Republican, has accused Loftis of willfully neglecting his duties as the state treasurer. According to them, the error arose during a transition between accounting systems in the 2010s, which led to discrepancies in the state's financial records. Loftis has been serving as treasurer for four terms and was re-elected in 2022 with nearly 80% of the vote, without a Democratic challenger.
In his Supreme Court filing, Loftis argued that the only constitutional method for his removal is through impeachment, which must start in the House and follow a trial-like process. He contends that the Senate’s process, which does not include witness testimonies or cross-examination, undermines democratic principles and the law. Loftis stated, “The people of South Carolina deserve a process that upholds the law and the democratic principles they have entrusted to us.”
As of now, the leadership in the Senate has not publicly responded to Loftis's legal challenge. However, they assert that both impeachment and their proposed method of removal are constitutionally valid. If two-thirds of the Senate votes to remove Loftis, the case would then advance to the House, where a similar majority would also be needed for his removal.
Time is also a pressing issue, as the General Assembly’s session is set to conclude on May 8, and no plans have been established for legislators to reconvene for this matter. Notably, the removal of a statewide officeholder through this process has never occurred in South Carolina’s 200-plus years as a state.
Loftis’s attorney, Deborah Barbier, has raised concerns over the hearing’s logistics, noting a lack of adequate preparation time and the absence of certain procedural protections, such as having the senators present evidence under oath. She questioned the fairness of conducting such a high-stakes hearing with only 19 days' notice, emphasizing that it would be more appropriate to let the electorate decide Loftis's fate in the November 2026 election.
A report released last month shed light on the accounting error, revealing that South Carolina’s financial records were flawed for a decade and remain uncorrected. This error was discovered following the resignation of Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom in March 2023, due to a separate accounting misstep. The new comptroller then flagged the mysterious account associated with Loftis’s office. The report indicated that Loftis not only failed to address the mistakes made but also obstructed independent investigations into the accounting issues.
Senate hearings have been contentious, with Loftis expressing frustration and accusing senators of conducting a “witch hunt.” A Senate subcommittee previously questioned Loftis under oath, underscoring the high stakes involved in the process. With the Senate scheduled to convene for the hearing at noon on April 21, the implications of the outcome are significant for South Carolina’s governance, amidst an already complicated fiscal landscape.
