Free Republic

During a contentious interview with Republican South Carolina Senator Tim Scott on Thursday, NBC’s 3rd Hour Today show co-host Craig Melvin wondered if the only black GOP member of the U.S. Senate was being “used” by his party as a “token” to lead policing reform efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Scott promptly rejected the insulting suggestion.--- After Scott’s response on Thursday, fellow co-host Al Roker jumped in and tried to push the Republican to denounce President Trump: Well, Senator, let me ask you this, the President just announcing that he’s gonna host a rally next week, Tulsa,...

Republican state Rep. Nancy Mace will face off against incumbent Rep. Joe Cunningham (D) in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District this November. Cunningham ran unopposed in the Democratic primary Tuesday, while Mace was declared the victor of the GOP primary by The Associated Press with a 33-point lead with just over 25 percent of precincts reporting. Cunningham’s seat is a top target for the GOP after the Democrat flipped the district by just more than 1 point in 2018. The district went for President Trump by 13 points in 2016, giving Republicans hope that higher turnout will help unseat Cunningham....

COLUMBIA, S.C. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- Seneca, faces three Republicans on June 9. They are educator and attorney Duke Buckner of Walterboro, corporate executive and businessman Michael LaPierre of Pickens and Merchant Marine Joe Reynolds of North Charleston. The State asked candidates to submit questionnaires. Here’s a look at who’s running and what they want voters to know, in their own words:

Steven Carrillo Biography – Wiki Steven Carrillo is named as the suspect who shot and killed Santa Cruz County sheriff’s deputy in Ben Lomond, an unincorporated area near Santa Cruz on Saturday while making an arrest, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said. Two other law enforcement officers were wounded, according to authorities. Carrillo was shot during the arrest and is still being treated at the hospital.

@seanhannity GRAHAM on HANNITY: ‘The Same People Who Lied to the FISA Court Set-Up The Mueller Investigation’ ---- Hahaha this guy is getting played! When will he learn? Does he believe anything Lindsey says? He is either stupid or ignorant. I can't quite believe it...

SNIP Close to midnight on Friday, while rioters used the killing of George Floyd as a pretext to set America aflame, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling that declined to enjoin the states of California and Illinois from restrictions on communal worship imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Most startling was that Chief Justice John Roberts not only joined the court’s four left-leaning justices (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan) in declining to uphold religious liberty. Roberts also wrote a brief opinion explaining his decision. That opinion is an eye-opener. Roberts accords the right to...

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced Friday his panel will hold a hearing on police use of force after the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. Graham said in a statement he’d spoken with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the committee’s ranking member, about the killing, which has resulted in days of protests and charges against one of the officers involved. “Both of us are appalled at what we saw and believe it is important to have a hearing as soon as possible as to how to combat this outrage,” Graham said....

Restaurants throughout South Carolina can reopen for limited dine-in services beginning Monday (May 11th). South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster made the announcement Friday. Additionally, McMaster announced that he has lifted all boating restrictions, as defined by Executive Order 2020-25, effective immediately. All laws and regulations concerning the safe operation of boats in South Carolina will now return to normal. “As we gradually and methodically lift restrictions aimed at combating the coronavirus, it is incumbent upon South Carolinians to follow to the guidance and recommendations provided by our public health experts to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,” said McMaster....

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced Monday evening that his panel will vote June 4 on a subpoena authorization to review documents and communications and solicit testimony from an array of senior Obama-era officials, including former FBI Director James Comey. Graham announced in a press release that the subpoena vote will take place as part of his panel’s investigation into “FISA abuse” and the FBI probe “Crossfire Hurricane,” which investigated contacts between Trump advisers and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election. The subpoenas will cover “documents, communications and testimony from witnesses” including Comey, former FBI deputy director...

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is going to allow all restaurants in the state to reopen for in-store dining on Monday, although there will be some strong restrictions. McMaster made the announcement Friday afternoon during a news briefing. He said he would address "close contact" businesses such as barbershops, salons, and gyms on Monday. “As we gradually and methodically lift restrictions aimed at combating the coronavirus, it is incumbent upon South Carolinians to follow to the guidance and recommendations provided by our public health experts to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,” said Gov. Henry McMaster....

A 25-year-old Columbia college student has been arrested after federal agents said they discovered he had fraudulently obtained dozens of firearms and more than 23,000 rounds of ammunition. The man, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday, had also researched mass shootings on his computer. Edward Daniel Kimpton Jr. has been charged with federal wire fraud, mail fraud and possession of machine gun violations. In a complaint filed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, agents said Kimpton, a student at Midlands Technical College, had used a complicated scheme to obtain weapons, ammunition and tactical gear without paying for them....

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The sound of car horns roared in downtown Columbia for about an hour and a half Friday afternoon Protesters wanting to see the state 're-open' held demonstrations on the grounds of the State House and circled around it. Organizers said more than 100 cars joined them for the “Drive to Thrive” event. Tom Trammell, an unemployed hearing aid practitioner, said he created the event with the help of two other people to protest the governor’s “Stay At Home” order and the closure of nonessential businesses. He said they wanted to do this for those in South...

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Friday two protests happened at the State House where demonstrators showed their support for reopening South Carolina’s economy. At noon, a group called Drive to Thrive asked the community to join in on a mobile protest against the ongoing closures of some non-essential businesses in our state. Their goal was to fill the streets of Columbia with at least 50,000 vehicles. Demonstrators were encouraged to stay inside their cars, and show an audible display of solidarity by honking their car horns for a full 60 seconds at 12:30 p.m. They’re also asking participants to support local...

In a 5-4 decision, a divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled that foreigners who are in America illegally can be prosecuted for the crime of identity theft. While the ruling seems like a no brainer, the court was divided because the case involved the Immigration Control and Reform Act, which says any information provided on an I-9 work form can’t be used by law enforcement in any way — and that includes as evidence in a criminal case. “The Immigration Control and Reform Act (IRCA) makes it a federal crime to lie on the I-9 work authorization form, while limiting how...

Plains, Georgia - Former President Jimmy Carter suggested Pete Buttigieg's campaign is searching for answers after a disappointing fourth-place finish in Saturday's South Carolina primary, the first test of candidates' support in a state with predominantly African-American voters. Buttigieg and his husband Chasten paid a visit to Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter on Sunday morning, joining them for breakfast here in Georgia, which holds its Democratic primary on March 24. Carter told reporters at Buffalo Cafe in Plains that he is fond of Buttigieg, mentioning their work on a Habitat for Humanity project in South Bend, Indiana, where...

South Carolina is the nation's first open primary in the 2020 presidential election cycle — voters of any party may participate meaning independent and opposing-party voters can play a role.

It is the little things that tell me the long term outlook for the Republican Party and the country is doubtful. My fellow Republicans are stupid, really stupid. I am listening to last night's Trump rally and I am disgusted. When Trump talks about trade and bringing back manufacturing THE REPUBLICANS IN ATTENDANCE REMAIN SILENT. Shame on Republicans. Shame.

More Republican groups hoping to meddle in the state’s Democratic presidential primary on Saturday have decided who will get their vote. The Greenville Tea Party has chosen to support for Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, as he has risen in the polls and has won the popular vote in the Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada contests. Former Vice President Joe Biden has consistently led in the South Carolina polls, but the lead over Sanders has shrunk in recent weeks. Stephen Brown, the former chairman of the Greenville Tea Party, said a few thousand votes may tip the scales of Saturday’s...

Charleston, South Carolina got a glimpse of its potential future in September when Hurricane Dorian grazed the South Carolina coast, bringing the three-headed monster of heavy rain, storm surge and extreme high tides with it. Tuesday night, seven Democratic candidates for President will take the stage in Charleston and try to make their cases for how they’ll stem the intensification of climate change, which is fueling that future marked by increased risk of powerful storms and chronic flooding across the Southeast. It’s been less than a week since the last Democratic debate in Nevada, where six candidates - former New...

Donald Trump mocked Democrats' Debate night of finger-pointing, shouting and chaos as he returned to the White House Wednesday, scoffing: 'Just give me an opponent.' He took aim at a series of his potential rivals to call them 'crazy,' and say: 'Would be over for most.' The tweet reflected his public confidence that he can beat any of the Democratic field in November, and came after just over two hours of the CBS hosted debated which quickly devolved into angry personal exchanges with a total loss of control by moderators Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell.