Rep. Nancy Mace threatens legal action against Charleston International Airport, police officers

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) threatened on Wednesday to bring legal action against the Charleston International Airport and multiple others after she claims they “fabricated” reports regarding a recent confrontation with airport security.

Mace alleged that multiple airport and airline employees “coordinated and conspired to create false and misleading incident reports” related to the Oct. 30 incident, in which the congresswoman was accused of exhibiting “irate” behavior

and making derogatory comments toward officers before an early morning flight.

“We believe Congresswoman Nancy Mace has been subjected to a calculated and coordinated effort to malign her character through deliberately falsified documentation,” said Larry Klayman, her attorney. “No American, let alone a sitting member of Congress, should be subjected to institutional misconduct and defamation of this nature.”

A Nov. 5 press release listed several airport administration officials, including President and CEO Elliott Summey, three officers, and an unnamed American Airlines gate agent as possible parties in the defamation lawsuit. It also names Attorney General Alan Wilson, one of Mace’s opponents in the GOP race for governor.

No lawsuits had been publicly filed as of the time of publication, according to court records. News 2 has reached out to the individuals named for comment.

It represents the latest development surrounding Mace’s alleged outburst, which has drawn attention — and in some cases, criticism — from her colleagues, including the state’s two Republican senators.

“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,” U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) wrote in a Nov. 4 Facebook post. “Not only are these officers sworn to protect us, but we also take an oath to represent them. We work for them, not vice versa.”

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) concurred with Scott’s assessment, writing in a Nov. 4 post on X that he has had “nothing but positive, respectful engagements” with police officers and TSA agents at 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 continued.

Days after details of the Oct. 30 incident were made public, Mace accused the airport’s internal failing to provide her an appropriate security detail on dozens of occasions.

She claimed those repeated security lapses were to blame for her frustration after a miscommunication left her without an escort from the outdoor ticketing area to the TSA checkpoint that morning.

According to the report, Mace called officers “incompetent,” said Scott would “never have been treated this way,” and repeatedly used profanity as she was walked to her gate.

Though Mace is now alleging that some of the information in the report was deliberately falsified, she has not denied her supposed actions or the language she used.

“If there is an incompetent government employee at the airport expecting an apology this morning, you are not going to get it,” she said during a Nov. 3 press conference on Daniel Island.

The South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police has also weighed in, describing Mace’s conduct as “inappropriate,” and saying the organization stands firmly behind the officers who were involved.

“Regardless of any miscommunication, no law enforcement officers should be met with hostility, public ridicule, or profanity while performing their duties,” a Nov. 4 statement read. “Disagreement is part of public life. Disrespect and verbal abuse toward those who protect and serve is not.”

More than 50 elected officials across the Lowcountry also expressed their support for the airport and its employees in a joint letter released Wednesday.

“We are especially grateful for the men and women responsible for maintaining security and order at the airport,” the letter reads, in part. “Law enforcement officers, TSA personnel, and airport staff work in a high-pressure environment, balancing safety, customer service, and federal regulatory requirements. They perform these duties with professionalism, courtesy, and a clear commitment to protecting travelers and our region.”

The signees include a bipartisan group of over two dozen state lawmakers, five mayors, as well as multiple councilmembers and county officials from Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.

Libel cases hard to prove, experts say

Legal experts said it would be difficult to prove libel, as public figures face an elevated burden of proof.

“It’s easy to threaten to file a lawsuit, it’s difficult for a public official to win one,” said Jay Bender, a former lawyer and retired media professor.

According to Bender, if Mace were to file a defamation case, she would have to prove there was a false statement of fact published about her to a third person, prove it caused injury to her reputation and prove the person making the decision to publish knew it was false or had serious doubt about the accuracy.