CHAPIN, S.C. — On Monday, U.S. Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina took to the House floor for a nearly hour-long address where she made serious allegations against her former fiancé. During her speech, Mace accused him of physically abusing her, engaging in non-consensual recordings of sexual acts, and collaborating with associates in acts of rape and other sexual misconduct.
Mace stated that her motivation for speaking up stemmed from the inaction of South Carolina’s state attorney general, who she claims did not pursue an investigation after she alerted authorities. This attorney general may potentially become her opponent should she decide to run for governor in the 2026 election.
Describing her decision as going “scorched earth,” Mace recounted her discovery in November 2023 of what she termed heinous crimes against women, including rape and the distribution of non-consensual images and videos of women and minors. She claimed these acts represented a calculated exploitation of women and girls in her community.
Mace named four men allegedly involved in these activities, including Patrick Bryant, who was her fiancé until 2023 and had previously supported her during her 2022 re-election campaign. The validity of Mace’s claims has not been independently verified. In response to the allegations, Bryant stated that he fully denies these claims and is prepared to cooperate with any legal proceedings to clear his name.
The congresswoman expressed her frustrations regarding Attorney General Alan Wilson, accusing him of deliberately slowing the investigation into Bryant and the others after she provided evidence including photos and videos. She questioned whether any of the alleged offenders had been indicted despite her submission of what she described as unequivocal evidence. Her office has also set up a tip line for relatives or friends with relevant information about the allegations.
In reaction to Mace’s claims, Wilson’s office labeled her assertions about the prosecutor’s office as “categorically false,” stating that they had not received any reports or requests regarding these allegations from law enforcement or prosecution agencies.
Nancy Mace’s political journey is marked by notable achievements; she was the first woman to graduate from The Citadel, South Carolina’s military institution, and served briefly in the state House before being elected to Congress in 2020 as the first Republican woman to represent South Carolina, winning a seat that had previously been held by a Democratic representative.
Mace’s choice to bring these serious allegations to the House floor is unconventional. She emphasized that statements made during floor addresses are considered “legislative acts,” granting constituents protection under the “speech or debate” clause, which typically guards lawmakers against lawsuits for their statements.
In addressing the issue, Mace stressed the gravity of her message, clarifying that her story is not merely one of personal conflict, but a serious matter involving significant violations of consent. She referred to various proposed bills she has supported that aim to combat voyeurism and regulate access to women’s bathrooms, among other topics.
Previously, in 2019, Mace disclosed her own experience of sexual assault that occurred more than two decades earlier, advocating for legislative changes that would provide rape and incest exceptions to a stringent abortion ban in the state.
During her speaking engagement, Mace mentioned being accompanied in the House gallery by several women she stated had also been victimized by Bryant and the others involved. Notable Republican representatives, including Lauren Boebert and Anna Paulina Luna, showed their solidarity by sitting behind her throughout her address.
Mace, now 47 years old, recently secured her third term in the U.S. House and has indicated serious consideration for a gubernatorial run in South Carolina in the upcoming 2026 elections. Should she go ahead, she would likely face Attorney General Wilson in the Republican primary.
Throughout her political career, Mace has been a supporter of Donald Trump, initially working on his 2016 campaign but later criticizing him after the events of January 6, 2021, which led Trump to back a challenger in her 2022 re-election bid. Mace ultimately won against that challenger and received Trump’s endorsement for her 2024 campaign.
After her intense speech, Mace declined to elaborate further to reporters and simply stated, “I’m at peace.”
