Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) made a sequence of allegations of sexual abuse, rape and voyeurism perpetrated towards herself and different ladies by a gaggle of 4 males in a private — and extremely uncommon — speech on the Home ground Monday night.
Mace, who has served within the Home since 2021, spoke for almost an hour within the decrease chamber, accusing 4 South Carolina males of being “predators” and displaying their names and photographs on a poster board on the Home ground.
“You have bought yourself a one-way ticket to hell. It is nonstop, there are no connections, so I and all your victims can watch you rot in eternity,” Mace mentioned on the Home ground, in a speech that she mentioned she titled “Iron Sharpens Iron.”
She made a variety of particular allegations, like discovering hundreds of intimate photographs and movies of girls and underage women that have been captured with out their consent. Mace additionally mentioned she was raped herself after blacking out one evening, and believes she was “purposefully incapacitated.”
Mace pulled out props all through the remarks, together with handcuffs — “if anyone would like to arrest me for standing up for women, here are my wrists” — a glass to point out the dimensions of the 2 drinks she had the evening she says she blacked out, and a digicam she mentioned was hidden on the property owned by two of the alleged assailants.
Mace additionally went into additional graphic element, however The Hill has not independently verified the allegations. Whereas Mace mentioned she has proof to again up her claims, she has not but offered it.
The South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed on Monday that it had opened an investigation into one of many males Mace named in December of 2023, shortly after Mace mentioned she found the abuse, after being contacted by U.S. Capitol Police.
“Since that date SLED has conducted multiple interviews, served multiple search warrants, and has a well-documented case file that will be available for release upon the conclusion of the case,” the division added.
No legal expenses have been filed, and a number of the males denied the allegations in statements to The Hill and mentioned they have been contemplating authorized motion.
A provision of the Structure often known as the “speech or debate clause” offers members of Congress broad safety from prosecution for what they are saying whereas performing legislative duties.
A press launch from Mace concerning the speech referenced that safety, however defended the veracity of her allegations: “Any and all statements made by Members on the House Floor are quintessential ‘legislative acts,’ and protected by the Speech and Debate clause afforded under the Constitution of the United States. Her statements tonight are not conjecture, they are not allegations, they are facts based on information she uncovered and documents she accidentally discovered.”
Mace additionally spent a good portion of her speech criticizing South Carolina Legal professional Common Alan Wilson (R), who she mentioned didn’t do sufficient to analyze and prosecute the alleged crimes.
Each Mace and Wilson are contemplating operating for governor of South Carolina in 2026.
The South Carolina Legal professional Common’s workplace issued an announcement after Mace’s speech that known as her remarks “categorically false,” denying that the entity has obtained any experiences relating to the issues she outlined.
“Ms. Mace either does not understand or is purposefully mischaracterizing the role of the Attorney General,” the workplace wrote. “At this time, our office has not received any reports or requests for assistance from any law enforcement or prosecution agencies regarding these matters. Additionally, the Attorney General and members of his office have had no role and no knowledge of these allegations until her public statements.”
“It is clear that Attorney General Alan Wilson has built his career on protecting the most vulnerable in our state; any statement otherwise is blatantly false and politically motivated,” the workplace added.
The speech made for a fairly unusual scene within the Home chamber, the place remarks are sometimes made to debate laws, honor constituents or touch upon present occasions. She delivered the speech after votes Monday night, when the chamber was largely empty.
Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) sat behind Mace for everything of her remarks, joined by Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) and a handful of staffers for components all through. Mace additionally mentioned her mom and survivors of sexual assault have been current within the gallery.
At one level, Mace positioned a purple sticker that mentioned “survivor” on her chest, which she mentioned her employees had made. The congresswoman handed stickers to Boebert, Burchett and Luna, who put them on as effectively. People watching the speech from the gallery additionally placed on the stickers.
Mace has made pushing again on rape and sexual abuse a key a part of her political identification, invoking her private experiences whereas doing so. Mace has lengthy talked about being raped as a teen whereas advocating for exceptions to anti-abortion laws.
And up to now a number of months, Mace has been very vocal about advocating towards transgender ladies being allowed in ladies’s restrooms — taking direct intention on the first brazenly transgender member of Congress, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who was elected final yr. In her speech Monday, she included a number of payments aimed toward transgender ladies in a listing of measure she mentioned have been aimed toward defending ladies and women.
