A state ethics panel said any appearance of impropriety between an attorney hired by the state and SC Treasurer Curtis Loftis was “inadvertent and unintentional.”
The panel did charge Loftis $500 for administrative fees, but Loftis said he will appeal that action by the commission. Loftis also said the ruling was “subjective and unprecedented.”

Quote from Treasurer Loftis:

While I am gratified that the commission acknowledged this alleged violation was inadvertent and unintentional, I will appeal this decision and the $500 administrative fee. This was a subjective and unprecedented ruling – and I fear that letting it stand would impose burdens upon the selfless service of thousands of people across the state that devote their time to nonprofit boards and organizations.

This action was filed by cronies of the SC Investment Commission, the same Commission that lost $7 billion of the public’s money through their disastrous investment decisions. I blew the whistle on their unbelievably poor performance and this is just one part of their retribution. South Carolinians know the sorry state of their government and they have twice elected me to fight for them in Columbia. This decision will not keep me from my duties to the people… I work for them and not the handful of rich and powerful elites that run our state.