A report from the South Carolina Office of the Inspector General (SCOIG) highlights issues with a $31 million loan approved by the State Treasurer’s Office for new voting machines, but found no evidence of criminal misconduct.
Loan and Late Fees
The 13-month investigation revealed that the loan to the State Election Commission included a near 214% compounding late fee, which created a cycle of debt. The report also noted that the purchase violated state procurement laws and that separate reporting errors shifted $65 million from the state’s general fund.
Treasurer’s Response
State Treasurer Curtis Loftis denied responsibility, attributing the missteps to the former elections chief. He emphasized that the report cleared him and his office of fraud, theft, personal enrichment, or criminal misconduct.
Loftis is seeking reelection in November and cited the SCOIG report as evidence of his innocence regarding criminal allegations.
