Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who is currently running for governor of South Carolina, allegedly berated police officers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents during an incident at Charleston International Airport on Thursday, according to an official police report obtained from airport authorities.
The report, filed by Pfc. Aaron W. Reed of the Charleston Airport Police, claims that Mace became irate during a security screening and lashed out at officers, calling them “incompetent” and accusing them of disrespecting her position as a member of Congress.
“She repeatedly stated we were ‘f—— incompetent,’ and ‘this is no way to treat a f—— U.S. Representative,’” Reed wrote in his incident report.
Reed also noted that Mace invoked the name of Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), reportedly telling officers, “You would never treat Tim Scott like this.” The report further states that Mace threatened to reach out to Elliott Summey, the airport’s president and CEO, to complain about her treatment: “She said she would contact ‘Eliot’ and tell him how horrible she has been treated,” Reed added.
It remains unclear what initially prompted the confrontation, but sources familiar with the incident said the exchange began after TSA agents requested additional screening for Mace’s carry-on bag — a routine procedure that reportedly escalated when she objected to the delay.
Neither Mace’s congressional office nor her gubernatorial campaign immediately responded to requests for comment. The Charleston County Aviation Authority also declined to discuss details, citing an ongoing internal review of the matter.
Witnesses at the scene described the altercation as “tense” but said the situation eventually deescalated without arrests or further incident. One traveler told reporters that Mace “seemed frustrated and kept reminding them she was a congresswoman.”
The alleged outburst comes as Mace has been working to boost her image ahead of a competitive gubernatorial race in South Carolina. Known for her fiery rhetoric and willingness to challenge party leadership, Mace has often positioned herself as a political outsider unafraid to speak her mind — but this latest controversy could complicate her campaign narrative.
Critics have already seized on the incident as an example of entitlement and poor temperament, while some supporters online have defended her, saying she was “just standing up for herself.”
As of Friday, no disciplinary actions have been announced, though airport officials confirmed they are reviewing body camera footage and witness statements to verify the details of the encounter.
