Congressman’s wife shouts at state Sen. Knotts

COLUMBIA — A congressman’s wife angrily confronted a state senator Tuesday after he placed a legislative block on a measure that would allow many disqualified candidates back on June primary ballots.

Roxanne Wilson, wife of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Lexington, shouted at Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, after he and Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, placed a minority report on a bill that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Such reports make it more difficult for bills to pass.

Roxanne Wilson, standing next to Knotts soon after the conclusion of the meeting, loudly told him that he owed an explanation to “every Lexington citizen” for his move.

Roxanne Wilson, also the mother of S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson, then continued to shout at Knotts as he left the hearing.

Roxanne Wilson told a security officer that tried to stop her from pursuing Knotts to get out of the way.

“Get your hand off me,” she said before yelling for Knotts not to walk away from her.

After the officer asked her to lower her voice, Wilson told him, “I don’t know who you are, but go away.”

Wilson and Knotts then met briefly behind closed doors and said they had resolved their differences, with Wilson kissing Knotts on the cheek.

Wilson’s sister, Suzanne Moore, is running for clerk of court in Lexington County but was among the candidates knocked off the June ballot by a state Supreme Court ruling last week.

Stephen Largen