Denied: SC treasure’s bid to delay removal trial after $1.8B accounting error

FILE – South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis asks a question of his staff during a Statehouse hearing on Jan. 29, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

(WPDE) — The South Carolina Supreme Court has rejected State Treasurer Curtis Loftis’s attempt to delay a Senate-led effort to remove him from office.

The order issued Thursday paves the way for a potentially contentious trial at the Statehouse.

The trial stems from allegations that Loftis attempted to conceal his office’s involvement in a $1.8 billion accounting error that went unnoticed by state officials for years.

This error led to the state comptroller Richard Eckstrom and state auditor George Kennedy’s resignations and prompted a lengthy forensic audit.

Loftis has remained defiant, accusing Senate lawmakers of conducting a “witch hunt” against him. Despite initially announcing he would not seek re-election, Loftis reversed his decision.

In a statement following the court’s ruling, Loftis expressed disappointment but noted that the constitutional question remains unresolved.

“I would like to thank the State Supreme Court for their rapid response to our petition,” Loftis said. “We are prepared to state our case before the Senate on Monday. We know this process will be more political theatrics than the formal trial one would expect to overturn a statewide election.”