South Carolina GOP feud escalates over Charleston hosting US-Europe security conference

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has mobilized the entire South Carolina House delegation to push back against Sen. Roger Wicker’s (R-Miss.) opposition to Charleston hosting a U.S.-European security conference in 2027, according to a letter shared exclusively with The Hill. 

Wilson and his state colleagues sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Friday asking for his backing in ensuring Charleston remains the host city, and to use his influence to get Wicker on board. 

The letter marks another escalation in a surprising feud between Wilson and Wicker, the chair and co-chair, respectively, of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, or Helsinki Commission, the U.S. branch of the 57-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

In March, Wicker put his support behind Charleston as the host city for the 2027 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session, but then reversed course over the past few months.

“We respectfully ask that you work with House and Senate leadership, specifically Senate Helsinki Commission Chairman Roger Wicker, and the appropriate committees to ensure the United States remains the host of the 2027 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session in Charleston,” the letter from Wilson and other South Carolina House members to Johnson reads. 

The letter was signed by Wilson and the entire South Carolina House delegation, which includes Republican Reps. Nancy Mace, Sheri Biggs, William Timmons, Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, along with Democratic Rep. James Clyburn. 

Two congressional sources said Wilson........

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