SC State Rep. Says Wilson's Comments are 'Beneath the Office'

South Carolina State Rep. Thomas Beach. Photo: Gage Skidmore

COLUMBIA, SC — Following yesterday's comments by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) that Orthodox Christians in America "could serve as vehicles" of foreign influence, State Rep. Thomas Beach responded forcefully.

"Really ugly smear of Orthodox Christians as agents of a foreign power," he said on X. "This is beneath the office."

Joe Wilson's son, Alan Wilson, currently serves as attorney general for the state of South Carolina and is also a candidate for governor. The Republican primary is scheduled for June 2026, and President Donald Trump has yet to offer his endorsement to any of the candidates.

"I hope (Alan Wilson) will forthrightly speak in defense of the rights of Orthodox Christians to practice their faith without government persecution or harassment," Beach said. He also shared a post about Joe Wilson which stated, "This is fundamentally a call from a sitting US Representative to persecute Orthodox Christians in America who are in ROCOR, the OCA, and the Serbian Orthodox Church."

Previously, UOJ published an editorial on the "new McCarthyism" of individuals like Rep. Joe Wilson.

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