South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace said Monday she will not apologize after the gubernatorial candidate was accused of berating and insulting Charleston International Airport police officers and TSA agents last Thursday.
"Did I drop an F-bomb? I hope I did," Mace told reporters early Monday, accusing airport security of not ensuring her safety. "Did I call them incompetent? If I didn't, they absolutely earned it."
A Charleston County Aviation Authority Police report provided to media outlets last week said officers were to escort Mace early Thursday from the curb to her flight. Instead, the report said Mace, who was running behind schedule, arrived at the TSA entrance.
The report said when police arrived, Mace began loudly cursing and making derogatory comments to the officers and toward the department. The report adds Mace repeatedly said the officers were "(expletive) incompetent" and said, "This is no way to treat an (expletive) U.S. representative."
Mace called the released incident report a "political hit job," and accused the airport of failing to prioritize her safety. She said she filed public records requests, including for body camera footage.
In a supplemental email from Mace, her office included links to text messages between airport security and Mace's staff she said shows her office properly communicated Mace's plans, and text messages between Mace and an officer.
"I receive so many credible threats, (I) cannot keep up with them," Mace said.
Mace said she has encountered what she described as "security breaches" at the airport.
"If cursing is a crime, then myself and all of you watching this morning should have been arrested a very long time ago," Mace said.
She said the airport's CEO Elliott Summey is "well aware of these breaches and has done nothing to secure my safety."
In a Monday statement, Summey said the safety of the airport's more than 6 million passengers, elected officials and guests is the "highest priority."
"I take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness. The men and women of our police department demonstrate professionalism, vigilance, and dedication every day as they carry out their mission to serve and protect. Their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety allows us to continue providing a world-class travel experience to our community and visitors from around the world," Summey said.
He added, "I am deeply grateful for their service and the vital role they play in keeping Charleston International Airport safe, secure, and operational around the clock. I want to be clear: I wholeheartedly support the men and women of the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority, TSA, Customs and Border Protection, and Joint Base Charleston for their hard work and dedication."
Mace, a former state lawmaker, was elected to a third term in the U.S. House last year to represent the coastal district. She was first elected to Congress in 2020, when she flipped the 1st District seat back for Republicans.
Mace is one of five Republicans vying for governor.
At least two other campaigns for GOP candidates — Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson — have responded to last Thursday's incident.
Evette's campaign called the event "another chapter in a pattern of arrogance, entitlement and disrespect" Mace has shown toward police and voters. Wilson called on Mace to apologize, adding "no elected official has the right to threaten unpaid officers simply because they did not cater to her ego."
The GOP primary is June 9.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include Charleston International Airport CEO Elliott Summey's statement.
