South Carolina county official fired over student loans despite COVID-19 moratorium

By Jenny Goldsberry

Published April 6, 2022 7:46pm ET

South Carolina county official fired over student loans despite COVID-19 moratorium — A stack of one hundred dollar bills in a money wrapper labeled "Student Loan" on top of a blue graduation cap. A gold graduation tassel is draped over the stack of money. | (iStock)

Last week, the Charleston County Sheriff’s office fired one of its officials for defaulting on student loans.

Chief Deputy Joyce Smith, 48, was terminated on April 1 after being hired by County Sheriff Kristin Graziano in December 2020. Graziano claims in a letter that the termination was necessary “because South Carolina prohibits my office (among others) from employing individuals who are willfully in default on certain student loans.”