“I enjoy a two year term as the duly elected LCRP Chairwoman, unless I resign or become disabled. Those are the rules. There is no way around it.”

That’s what Pamela Godwin had to say about her having been ejected as chair of the Lexington County Republican Party when reached by the Chronicle, flying in the face of what the state GOP has said about her status.

Godwin, elected chair of the county party in April, was removed from the position by the state party in December, ending a months-long schism that saw the county GOP split into opposing factions by Godwin and 1st Vice Chair Mark Weber, each with separate websites and social media accounts.

Reached by the Chronicle, Weber, who is representing the county party as 1st vice chair until a vote to install a new chair is held Jan. 15, didn’t offer any comment on Godwin’s continued denial of her ouster.

The state party confirmed to the Chronicle that Godwin was removed and the Lexington County Executive Committee will now have to hold an election to install a new permanent chair. The removal, the state party explained, came after Godwin was deemed to have violated a rule stating that any individual that holds a party office can’t take legal action against another member.

“They have no proof of this, in fact, they provided evidence to the contrary,” Godwin claimed to the Chronicle. “Their documents showed my name wasn't on any legal filing against our party or any officers in their official capacity.”

“The name on the paperwork was LCRP Committee of Discipline co-chair, Lisa Dowdy,” she said, adding that that was decided by the county’s GOP executive committee.

The faction led by Weber posted to Facebook in September that Lisa Dowdy, co-chair of a “Disciplinary Committee” under Godwin, was suing 3rd Vice Chair John Allen, Treasurer Jackie Fowler, and Preston Baines for $7,000 per person and other miscellaneous items.

Lexington County court records show that suits brought by the county party against these three individuals were all dismissed in November.

A resolution shared to the Godwin faction’s Facebook, which has continued to post as though it represents the official county GOP, claims that she wasn’t party to any legal proceedings against the GOP at any level, against any officers in their official capacities, and she didn't have her name on any legal filings toward the party or any officer. The resolution adds that the state GOP’s actions are based on false and inaccurate information from the state’s rules committee.

According to Godwin, the county’s Committee of Discipline, created by the executive committee, filed the magistrate paperwork as a last resort after “repeated requests to the rogue members to do the right thing” and return items like the party checkbook, financial records, social media passwords and more.

“To not allow someone, even a party or party officer, not to be able to defend themselves against theft or wrongdoing of any kind, would violate our rights,” Godwin said.

She added that when the state GOP made its “hasty” decision the county party held a special meeting and passed a resolution that supports Godwin as the elected chair. She said that she is supported by the state executive committee,  2nd Vice chair, Secretary, a bevy of District Vice-chairs, and the county’s official body.

“We know what is going on and we are moving forward as the official LCRP, excited about what's in store for 2024,” she concluded.