South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis has asked the state Supreme Court to block a Senate hearing scheduled for April 21 that could start the process to remove him from office.
Loftis argues that only the House can initiate removal through impeachment. The Senate plans to use a different constitutional process that does not involve witness testimony.
The case centers on a $1.8 billion accounting error tied to a decade-old switch in state financial systems. The funds never existed but appeared due to unresolved bookkeeping issues. A recent report found that state books have been inaccurate for 10 years.
The Senate claims Loftis failed to report the issue as required by law and slowed investigations. Loftis denies wrongdoing and says the removal process violates due process.
At the April 21 hearing, two Republican senators will present the case, followed by a response from Loftis’ team. Senators will then vote. If two-thirds approve, the process moves to the House.
The legislative session ends May 8, and no House Republican leaders have publicly supported removal. A statewide officer has never been removed this way in South Carolina’s history.