CHAPIN, S.C. — On Monday, Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina took to the House floor for nearly an hour to make serious allegations against her former fiancé. She accused him of physical abuse, recording sexual activities without consent, and collaborating with associates in acts of sexual misconduct, including rape. Mace stated that her decision to come forward stemmed from the lack of action taken by the state’s attorney general despite her previous alerts to investigators. This same prosecutor may potentially run against Mace in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial race, which she has indicated she is contemplating.
During her speech, Mace recounted how she alleged she discovered deeply disturbing crimes against women in November 2023. She described the accusations as involving rape, non-consensual recordings of women and underaged girls, and systematic exploitation of females in her district. Among those implicated, she specifically named four individuals, including Patrick Bryant, a businessman from the Charleston area who was once engaged to her and actively campaigned for her during her 2022 reelection bid.
As of now, the veracity of Mace’s assertions cannot be independently verified. Bryant responded by categorically disputing the allegations, assuring that he takes the matter seriously and is prepared to cooperate with any legal proceedings to clear his name. Mace expressed disappointment, accusing the South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson of deliberately slowing down the investigation into Bryant and the others after she presented evidence, which included videos and photographs.
In response to Mace’s claims, a spokesperson for Wilson labeled her remarks regarding the prosecutor’s actions as completely false, asserting that their office had not received any formal requests for assistance from law enforcement agencies pertaining to these issues. Furthermore, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division confirmed it initiated an investigation in December 2023 concerning Bryant over accusations of assault, harassment, and voyeurism, noting that the investigation is ongoing and will eventually be forwarded to a prosecutor for evaluation.
Mace, who served in the South Carolina state legislature and became the first female graduate from The Citadel military college, made history in 2020 as the first Republican woman elected to Congress from South Carolina after winning the 1st District seat. Her choice to reveal these serious allegations on the House floor is notable; she emphasized that statements made there are legislative acts protected by the “speech or debate” clause, providing lawmakers with immunity from being sued for their spoken words.
Mace clarified that her intention was not to discuss personal matters of past relationships, but rather to highlight troubling cases of non-consensual activities and the importance of protecting victims. She mentioned numerous legislative efforts she has pursued, focusing on issues such as voyeurism and broader conversations about rights in gender identification.
Previously, in 2019, Mace had publicly shared her own experience of sexual assault from over two decades earlier, advocating for exceptions to abortion bans relating to rape and incest. On Monday, she expressed solidarity in the House gallery for several women who had also faced victimization at the hands of Bryant and his associates. Supportive Republican lawmakers, including Representatives Lauren Boebert and Anna Paulina Luna, stood behind her during the address.
After winning a third term in Congress in November, Mace has candidly stated her interest in running for governor. Should she decide to enter the race, she is likely to face off against Wilson in the Republican primary. While she has shown support for Donald Trump in the past, Mace publicly criticized him following the events of January 6, 2021, which prompted Trump to back a GOP challenger in her previous election. Nevertheless, she successfully secured reelection and received Trump’s endorsement for her 2024 candidacy.
After her speech, Mace refrained from offering further comments to the media but remarked that she felt “at peace” with her decision to speak out.
