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A bipartisan group of 56 South Carolina officials signed a letter supporting Charleston International Airport staff. The letter follows an incident where U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace berated airport security and threatened a lawsuit. Mace alleges security lapses and claims police reports are defamatory, retaining legal counsel to sue the airport. Fellow Republican gubernatorial candidates and Sen. Tim Scott have criticized Mace's conduct toward law enforcement and airport personnel. A group of 56 South Carolina lawmakers, council members and mayors have signed on to a letter in support of the Charleston International Airport as U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace threatens to sue. Dozens of Lowcountry officials released a joint statement in response to Mace threatening legal action over an interaction with airport security on Oct. 30. The group is bipartisan and made up of state lawmakers, mayors and council members, including Charleston's Republican Mayor William Cogswell, State Rep. Jordan Pace, R-Berkeley and State Sen. Ed Sutton, D-Charleston. "As leaders committed to the well-being, reputation and continued success of the Lowcountry and all of South Carolina, we write to express our strong support for Charleston International Airport and the dedicated professionals who serve there each day," the joint letter states. The airport is a vital economic hub that contributes to tourism, small businesses, local jobs and connectivity, according to the letter. The letter expressed gratitude for the workers who help maintain order at the facility. "Law enforcement officers, TSA personnel, and airport staff work in a high-pressure environment, balancing safety, consumer service, and federal regulatory requirements," the letter states. Oct. 30 incident at the Charleston International Airport The letter was written in the aftermath of Mace, R-District 1, berating airport staff over her security detail on Oct. 30 and threatening legal action over the mater. The dispute started upon Mace's drop off at the airport. The congresswoman was scheduled for an early morning flight from the airport. The Charleston County Aviation Authority Police Department expected the congresswoman to arrive in a white BMW, not the gray car she was dropped off in, according to an incident report. Mace claims that airport security had proper information about the car she was arriving in. Officers went out to the curb to wait for Mace at 6:30 a.m. and stood there until 7 a.m., when they heard the congresswoman was inside at a TSA checkpoint. Timestamped video from outside of the airport shows Mace arriving at the airport at 6:50 a.m. before walking in a few minutes later. The security personnel then walked inside to find Mace "very irate" at the checkpoint, according to the report. Two of the three officers who waited at the airport curb for Mace also wrote letters detailing the incident to a lieutenant. They wrote she called them "[expletive] incompetent" and said, "this is no way to treat a [expletive] U.S. representative.” They also claim she said, "Tim Scott would [expletive] not be treated this way." Sen. Scott issued a lengthy statement in response to Mace using his name at the airport, stating that every interaction he has had at the airport before and during his time in the Senate was positive. "It is never acceptable to berate police officers, airport staff, and TSA agents who are simply doing their jobs, nor is it becoming of a member of Congress to use such vulgar language when dealing with constituents," Scott wrote. Sen. Lindsey Graham also jumped in agreeing with Scott's response to the debacle. The senior senator said, like Scott, he has had nothing but positive interactions at the Charleston International Airport. "The men and women I have encountered – from security to airport leadership – are professional and diligent in the performance of their duties and I am honored to represent them in the U.S. Senate," Graham stated. Mace said there were major lapses in her security that day. She now claims that airport employees "coordinated and conspired to create false and misleading incident reports" — leading her to take legal action. She said the police report from that day constitute "defamation per se, violations of her civil rights, and tortious interference" in her campaign for governor. More Nancy Mace says she'll file lawsuit against Charleston airport She has retained Larry Klayman, founder of Judicial Watch and Freedom Watch, as her representation. Rifts over treatment of law enforcement, government workers Something that unifies every Republican candidate in the race for governor of South Carolina is their perspective and support for law enforcement. Many candidates called out Mace's treatment of these professionals, using her interaction to reaffirm their support for police. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, two Republican candidates for governor, have criticized Mace's conduct at the airport. Wilson, Evette and Mace are often the top three candidates in polls of the Republican gubernatorial primary. "Our law enforcement in South Carolina is as competent as it gets. Can’t say the same for certain members of Congress," Evette wrote. "She (Mace) is dangerous, reckless, and will use her position to come after her enemies—just like Democrats do. Next time she claims she supports law enforcement, don’t believe her," Wilson said in a statement. Wilson also stopped by the Charleston International Airport on Nov. 4 to drop off food for TSA agents and law enforcement in a show of support for the workers, some of which are not getting paid due to the shutdown. The joint letter sent by lawmakers said it is important to recognize and respect these airport workers for their role in maintaining safety at the airport. "The Lowcountry has always prided itself on civility, respect, and gratitude for public service. We believe those who serve at Charleston International exemplify these values daily," the joint letter said. The South Carolina Fraternal Order of the Police (SCFOP) also weighed in on incident, calling Mace's conduct "inappropriate" and "profane." The organization said that these officers deserve basic respect and professionalism, whether they're escorting officials or answering community calls. "If an elected official has concerns about procedure or security, those concerns should be addressed through the proper channels, such as command staff or airport leadership," SCFOP wrote. "Directing anger at the officers on the ground does nothing to resolve issues. It only undermines morale and creates an unnecessary public spectacle." Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@gannett.com
