Loftis faces ethics complaint behind closed doors

State Treasurer Curtis Loftis spent part of his 58th birthday Thursday battling charges that he improperly helped a longtime friend obtain a lucrative state-paid assignment.

Loftis and his lawyer, Greg Harris, declined comment after a closed-door session with the state Ethics Commission that lasted nearly seven hours.

The matter was “explored thoroughly” during the marathon session, said Sam Griswold, a retired state employee who made the complaint against Loftis. “There were significant arguments made on both sides.”

Griswold questioned the hiring, which he says cost retirees $2 million in legal fees that were paid as part of a settlement of a dispute with a bank.

Loftis, who lives in West Columbia, faces a fine of up to $2,000 and a public reprimand if the commission agrees he influenced the hiring of lawyer Michael Montgomery.

At issue is whether Loftis should have told state Attorney General Alan Wilson about his relationship with Montgomery when he sought Wilson’s permission to hire his friend.

Montgomery, a former Richland County councilman and former Richland 2 school board member, was a board member of a nonprofit foundation created by Loftis.

Wilson declined comment after appearing at the hearing for a hour.

Another attorney in the matter sent the nine commission members a statement saying it was his decision to hire Montgomery without any recommendation or request from Loftis.

The panel’s review was private since Loftis, who campaigned on opening more of state government to public scrutiny, did not ask that it be conducted publicly.

A decision is expected within 60 days. It will become public after Loftis is notified.