Rep. Henry Brown

This message was sent by ACLU activist Nancy Seufert about a recent trip to DC and her unpleasant experience with Rep. Henry Brown. She wanted to share her story.

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Nancy Seufert. I am in Dorchester County, SC. Yesterday, I had the distinct displeasure in meeting Congressman Henry Brown after an ACLU rally I participated in. I had an appointment in which I was going to speak to the Congressman regarding my concerns to Restore Rights, Stop Torture, and Close Guantánamo. When I arrived at Browns office, a young lady introduced herself as Tara, a freelance journalist working for the Times and Democrat, writing an article on the ACLU demonstration and how one of Congressman Browns constituents felt about the issue.

I told the receptionist that I and my daughter (both of us are Henry Brown’s constituents) were there for our 4PM appointment. The receptionist asked if I was with the reporter. I told her I wasn’t as did the reporter. I was invited to sit in the office and wait. As I waited the reporter asked my name and why I was there. I answered her questions. She then asked what Brown’s position on the matter was and I expressed that is why I was there. At that time, Mr. Brown came out and introduced himself. At no time did I get invited into his office. I explained to the Congressman that I had concerns about the treatment of the prisoners in Guantanamo and I was concerned about their rights. The Congressman was extremely rude to my daughter and me telling me “I don’t understand the issues” and that he himself had visited Guantanamo and knew these men were guilty by looking at them and their records.

The Congressman stated that he was concerned over terror. I expressed to the Congressman that my concern was terrorism also. I told him that both my parents served in the military, that my first husband was a gulf war (the first one) veteran, that my husband had served in the Air Force for 20 years and currently worked as an employee for the CAFB, and that my father was in the towers working on 911 (thankfully he survived). I also expressed that what I was seeking was to have the individuals that were in these prison camps to have the basic human rights that we all receive. At that time, the congressmen stated that the men over there would cut their enemies heads off and as such did not deserve any rights. I expressed that as a mother I had always taught my children that two wrongs do not equal rights.

The reporter also tried to follow up on some of the questions raised at which time the Congressman began yelling at her. The staff tried to interrupt and tell the Congressman and the reporter to allow us to have a discussion in the other office and that the Congressman would answer her questions later which the Congressman ignored. I finally had enough of the Congressman yelling at me and berating me in front of my daughter and I left. An aide who did not identify himself came out and began yelling at me also for bringing a reporter in. I told him that I did not bring the reporter in and that the staff knew that since both I and the reporter told them that. The aide ended up blaming the ACLU. 

As I expressed to the Congressman and the reporter, I had gone many hours without sleep and as a brittle diabetic was not good for me, to show my 20 year old daughter how the system worked. I really did not expect to be verbally assaulted by a congressman that is supposed to represent me to treat me in such a disrespectful manner. I hope that there is some way that this could be reported as others should know how the Congressman treats his constituents. 

Best regards,
Nancy Seufert