During Hilton Head visit, Wilson fiercely defends trips to war zones

Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson defended his frequent trips to Iraq and Afghanistan -- the subject of an ethics investigation, according to congressional staff members with detailed knowledge of the probe -- during a campaign appearance Wednesday on Hilton Head Island.

Wilson was asked about the investigation by an audience member at an event at the Crazy Crab restaurant sponsored by the Republican Women of Southern Beaufort County.

"I take (the trips) very seriously. That's how I do my fact-finding," Wilson said to loud applause. "I make no apology. I have gone to be with the troops."

Wilson, a Lexington Republican whose 2nd District includes Beaufort County, said some of the travel was because of a commitment to visit his former National Guard unit every three months while it was stationed in Afghanistan to find out how he could help it.

He said he served in the National Guard for 31 years, and all four of his sons serve in the military. He said he has been to Afghanistan 11 times and to Iraq 10 or 11 times since he was elected to Congress in 2001.

Wilson said his trips allowed him to speak with troops and hear about problems he couldn't have learned about in Washington, D.C.

Wilson confirmed last week that examiners with the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent nonpartisan agency, had recently interviewed him about his use of per diem expense money.

Wilson's overseas travel since 2001 has cost taxpayers about $100,000 in itemized expenses, including about $38,000 in per diem money intended to cover only meals and lodging.

Wilson's communications director, Brian DeRoy, said stories on the investigation resulted from a one-sentence mention of how the representative bought marble goblets as gifts for his constituents while in Kabul, and the whole thing was "blown up into something else."

Wilson spoke for about 20 minutes at Wednesday's event and spent another 20 answering questions. He told the audience the Democrats' health care plan can be repealed if Republicans gain the majority in the House.

"With your assistance in re-electing me, I can't wait to be there for the fight, for the struggle, for the people of our country, promoting limited government and expanded freedom," said Wilson, who faces a challenge from Rob Miller, a Lady's Island Democrat and former Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service contributed to this story.