Joe Wilson’s primary challenger accused the SC congressman’s wife of assault
One of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson’s primary challengers accused his wife of assault and wants charges filed.
Hamp Redmond told the Richland County Sheriff’s Office at a candidate stump event hosted by the Richland and Lexington County Republican, that Roxanne Wilson, the congressman’s wife, yelled and poked him in the chest.
During the April 25 event outside of Doc’s Barbecue on Shop Road, Redmond criticized Wilson for his support for Ukraine in its war against Russia and said Wilson should take a cognitive test. During Redmond’s speech, he said Joe Wilson and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham have been in office for too long and are “thorns in the side of America.”
“I guess she didn’t like some of the things that I said about her husband,” Redmond said in an interview.
Redmond initially told sheriff’s personnel that he only wanted to have the incident documented, but he has since asked for charges to be filed.
“She doesn’t need to be treated like she’s better than other people, and she can do anything she wants to do, and get by with it. I just don’t think that’s right,” Redmond said.
Redmond said he doesn’t remember what Roxanne Wilson said to him, and he was caught off guard by the interaction.
“I’m not used to somebody trying to put your hands on me. That’s crossing the line,” Redmond said.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Office released a redacted version of the report and said the case is under investigation, but declined further comment.
“He advised her to stop (poking him) and she continued until he stated that ‘he would sue her if she touched him again.’ At that point she walked away without further incident,” the report said.
Redmond said two weeks ago at another candidate event in Aiken that Roxanne Wilson held up a sign that said “you lie” after Redmond’s remarks there. Joe Wilson yelled “you lie” at President Barack Obama during a 2009 speech in front of a joint-session of Congress.
Wilson’s campaign confirmed an interaction took place. Roxanne Wilson, through her husband’s campaign, declined to comment, but Joe Wilson released a brief statement.
“Both Roxanne and Mr. Redmond have a First Amendment Right to free speech as guaranteed to them by the United States Constitution,” Joe Wilson said in the statement. “I will always stand by my wife. I appreciate her constant support and defense of both me and our family.”
Also on the Republican ballot for the June 9 primary in the 2nd Congressional District is Sam Gibbons.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 12:50 PM.
