A Family Matter
Throughout Josh Kimbrell’s rise as a SC Conservative Leader, he has been dogged by two major scandals.
Kimbrell was arrested in October 2014 on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor (his 3-year-old son), based on allegations from his ex-wife (Kacy Lyons Hatmaker) during a contentious divorce. The warrant claimed fondling occurred over several years. Supporters, including then-Gov. Nikki Haley, rallied for him, calling it a politically motivated smear against a conservative activist.
The charges against Kimbrell were dropped in February 2015 by Solicitor Walt Wilkins due to “insufficient evidence.” No trial occurred, and Kimbrell was not convicted. The case fueled debates about false accusations in custody battles.
A Business Matter
Frank Rogers, co-owner with Kimbrell of Exodus Aircraft LLC, accused Kimbrell and his wife Liliya of diverting over $2 million in company revenues to a “sham” entity (Exodus Airways LLC, was created by Kimbrell). Allegations include funneling funds via PayPal, personal credit cards, and banker Thomas Blake Whitaker to cover personal expenses and political campaigns. Rogers claimed Kimbrell exploited name confusion to mislead clients.
In July 2025, Kimbrell surrendered ownership and management of Exodus Aircraft via a consent decree. He agreed to cease contact with clients and vendors. Kimbrell called the lawsuit “frivolous” and “political gamesmanship” by a “disgruntled” partner.
Kimbrell filed a countersuit for defamation and libel. That case is ongoing, but no criminal charges are involved in the matter.
