The Charleston International Airport Police conducted an internal investigation into the October 30 incident involving U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and found that a miscommunication about the color of the vehicle she arrived in contributed to the problem. Police expected a white BMW but Mace arrived in a silver vehicle, leading to confusion and the absence of the expected police escort.
However, the report also highlights Mace’s behavior during the incident, including the use of profanity toward officers and failure to follow established procedures at the TSA checkpoint. Police Chief James Woods acknowledged the airport’s role in the miscommunication but said Mace’s actions escalated a minor issue into a public spectacle.
Key details from the investigation and aftermath include:
- Mace demanded an escort through security but was refused by a TSA employee who was not assigned to escort duties.
- TSA did not initially know she was coming and called airport police only after she arrived.
- Police escorted her through security without requiring standard screening procedures.
- Mace’s communication with airport personnel was complicated by high staff turnover and inconsistent arrival details, including changing vehicles and arrival times.
- The police requested threat information for her security which was never provided.
- Mace used Signal app for communication, which caused missed alerts due to its automatic message deletion and alert system.
- After the incident, the airport discontinued providing courtesy police escorts for dignitaries unless TSA requests their presence.
Mace’s reaction to the report was to call it a political hit job. She threatened to sue various parties including the airport leadership and the South Carolina Attorney General but had not decided on legal action as of the latest updates.
The incident attracted bipartisan support for the airport and police staff, with over 60 elected officials signing a letter backing their actions. Nonetheless, the episode may have damaged Mace’s standing in the GOP governor’s race, where her polling numbers dropped from around 20% to about 10.5% among likely voters.
In summary, the investigation identified shared responsibility: the airport police for the vehicle color miscommunication, and Mace for procedural noncompliance and aggressive conduct. The airport now avoids automatic police escorts for dignitaries to prevent similar incidents.
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