In what sources describe as an effort to “save face” following a pair of articles appearing on this website (here and here), U.S. Rep. Tom Rice and his former field representative Stephanie Rawlinson sat with each other at last weekend’s annual S.C. “Republican” Party banquet.
Of course the happy show didn’t last long, as sources tell FITS Rawlinson got “hammered” at the event and had to be escorted to the parking lot by the end of the evening.
Rawlinson was fired by Rice last week – although the official word is that she resigned her position as head of his Florence, S.C. operation due to various personal pressures.
The back story? Well, we’ve been able to establish that there has been some major “girl drama” between Rawlinson and Jennifer Watson, who runs Rice’s Myrtle Beach, S.C. operation. Watson is married to one of Rice’s longtime friends and has been his paralegal for more than two decades.
“Jennifer is the puppet master,” one source tells FITS.
She’s also no fan of Florence, and has been accused of working tirelessly to undermine Rice’s efforts in the region.
“Jennifer delayed (opening the) Florence office as long as she possibly could and then only gave Florence two employees for six counties while (Myrtle Beach) had five employees for the other two counties in the seventh district,” one Rice staffer tells FITS. “She only wanted there to be a beach office and a (Washington) office so she could control the state from the beach.”
Who stepped in? Wrenzie Rice, the congressman’s wife and closest political advisor.
“Wrenzie had to send her personal painter from the beach to Florence to paint the office because Jennifer would not get anyone to paint it so the office could open,” one source recalls. “Wrenzie had to do almost everything herself to get the Florence office open. Jennifer did everything she could not to let it open, to delay everything. Wrenzie finally figured out what she was doing.”
But is there more to this drama than just a bunch of bickering political biddies?
Perhaps …
Sources close to Rice tell FITS that investigators are reexamining Rawlinson’s testimony before the statewide grand jury that investigated former S.C. Lt. Governor Ken Ard. Specifically, questions have been raised as to whether Rawlinson – who worked for Ard – honestly answered questions about her role in his “cash for contributions” scandal.
One source close to the grand jury provided FITS with details of Rawlinson’s testimony that appears to conflict with emails and statements made in media accounts about her involvement with Ard’s finances.
“Whether (the grand jury) knows she lied or not, she lied,” our Rice source said.
Obviously that would be a crime …
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20 comments
Wrenzie, really?
Wrenzie, really?
“Wrenzie had to send her personal painter from the beach to Florence to
paint the office because Jennifer would not get anyone to paint it so
the office could open,” one source recalls. “Wrenzie had to do almost
everything herself to get the Florence office open.”
Her personal painter. Rich people problems.
“Wrenzie had to send her personal painter from the beach to Florence to
paint the office because Jennifer would not get anyone to paint it so
the office could open,” one source recalls. “Wrenzie had to do almost
everything herself to get the Florence office open.”
Her personal painter. Rich people problems.
“One source close to the grand jury provided FITS with details of Rawlinson’s testimony that appears to conflict with emails and statements made in media accounts about her involvement with Ard’s finances.”
ruttroo but i see a certain former district chairman’s fingerprints all over this. he said he would find the e-mails she sent out where she stated she was Ard’s campaign manager and openly solicited campaign contributions.
rawlinson made a fatal mistake when she attacked “mr.chairman” and his family at a horry county meeting; then took to facebook to wratchet it up a notch and then tried to deny she did that. someone should remind her about i-phones recording capacity.
what rawlinson failed to consider is that “mr. chairman” is known to be patient and play dirty. i guess i understand why he was in the ATL meeting with his attorney earlier this yr. i wont be surprised if the next horsemen gathering turns out to be a pig picking.
“One source close to the grand jury provided FITS with details of Rawlinson’s testimony that appears to conflict with emails and statements made in media accounts about her involvement with Ard’s finances.”
ruttroo but i see a certain former district chairman’s fingerprints all over this. he said he would find the e-mails she sent out where she stated she was Ard’s campaign manager and openly solicited campaign contributions.
rawlinson made a fatal mistake when she attacked “mr.chairman” and his family at a horry county meeting; then took to facebook to wratchet it up a notch and then tried to deny she did that. someone should remind her about i-phones recording capacity.
what rawlinson failed to consider is that “mr. chairman” is known to be patient and play dirty. i guess i understand why he was in the ATL meeting with his attorney earlier this yr. i wont be surprised if the next horsemen gathering turns out to be a pig picking.
Who Cares?
Who Cares?
To be fair to Wrenzie Rice (for a change) she actually comes off as being
less dysfunctional than the others in this ludicrous drama. The Rice
family’s House of Card-sharks is looking shakier than ever.
It’s funny that the story said Jennifer Watson wanted to “run the state” from DC and Myrtle Beach. What? Run the state? Really?
Really. Only to those who have never met the woman would this seem like hyperbole.
To be fair to Wrenzie Rice (for a change) she actually comes off as being
less dysfunctional than the others in this ludicrous drama. The Rice
family’s House of Card-sharks is looking shakier than ever.
It’s funny that the story said Jennifer Watson wanted to “run the state” from DC and Myrtle Beach. What? Run the state? Really?
Really. Only to those who have never met the woman would this seem like hyperbole.
were they arguing over the last twinkie?
were they arguing over the last twinkie?
I didn’t read this.Right after I clicked the pic,I broke out in a horrible rash,and had to go get treatment:Class-action lawsuit!
I didn’t read this.Right after I clicked the pic,I broke out in a horrible rash,and had to go get treatment:Class-action lawsuit!
This kind of bullcr*p coming from a freshman congressman that may run for senator-Jim DeMint’s old office. Drama unneeded, why.
Rice can’t cut a state wide race. He is lucky to have what he has. Watch him on Facebook, he is like a kid in a candy store. He claims to be the man, lets see what he produces for the district.
This kind of bullcr*p coming from a freshman congressman that may run for senator-Jim DeMint’s old office. Drama unneeded, why.
Rice can’t cut a state wide race. He is lucky to have what he has. Watch him on Facebook, he is like a kid in a candy store. He claims to be the man, lets see what he produces for the district.
Jennifer, put down the fork, for God’s sake.
Jennifer, put down the fork, for God’s sake.