APNewsBreak: SLED probes pension influence report

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The head of South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division confirms to The Associated Press his agency is investigating a report that investment companies were told they could improve their chances of handling state pension investment work if they paid a friend of the state treasurer.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show two investment companies reported suspicious calls that sought payments to Mallory Factor, a friend of Treasurer Curtis Loftis. Those reports prompted the South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission in November to ask the state attorney general for an investigation.

Commission vice chairman Reynolds Williams said investment companies told him about the questionable sales pitches.

Loftis said he does not think the sales pitches broke the law.

Factor did not respond to several messages seeking comment.