Both sides of the splintered Lexington County GOP have spoken out about Pamela Godwin’s removal last week as chair.

On Dec. 15, both factions that have been carrying themselves as the official county party issued statements. The side led by Godwin denied both her removal last week as chair by the state party’s Executive Committee and previous 1st Vice Chair Mark Weber’s status as interim chair. The side led by Weber expressed gratitude to the state party for taking action.

Abby Zilch, the state GOP’s communications director, previously confirmed to the Chronicle that Godwin had been removed and the Lexington County Executive Committee will now have to hold an election to install a new permanent chair.

Godwin was removed after the state Executive Committee deemed her to have violated a rule declaring that any individual that holds a party office can’t take legal action against another member. She previously told the Chronicle in September that she was unaware of any current lawsuit.

Lexington County court records show that suits were brought by the county party against 3rd Vice Chair John Allen, Treasurer Jackie Fowler and Preston Baines before being dismissed in November.

The Godwin-led faction posted a statement to Facebook Dec. 15 labeled “Imposter Group Masquerading as the Lexington County Republican Party Press Release, Mis-Information- Setting the Record Straight.”

The release flies in the face of what the state GOP has said about the situation, claiming that Godwin’s status as chair was affirmed last week and that Weber can therefore not be installed as interim chair. Godwin’s faction also called the August meeting at which Weber’s group made their own move to remove her as unsanctioned and invalid.

While Weber, like Godwin, didn’t respond to the Chronicle’s requests for comment, his side seems focused on what comes next.

Weber is quoted in his group's Dec. 15 release, saying the state’s vote supports the actions that the county’s executive committee took in August to remove Godwin from her position. A petition for her removal gained the necessary signatures and a letter was delivered to Godwin informing her of her removal.

Weber is further quoted as saying it’s time to move forward with the party’s shared principals and goals, adding that the party will coalesce with its common values and continue the progress made over the next few months.

“We welcome all party members, regardless of the hesitance of some, while we work diligently to make our party whole again,” Weber is quoted. “Please come back and join us; we have country, state and community to save.”