Nancy Mace accuses ex-fiancé of assault, sexual misconduct, and secret recordings in House speech

Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina delivered an almost hour-long speech on the U.S. House floor on Monday, accusing her former fiancé of physically assaulting her, secretly recording intimate encounters involving her and others without their consent, and collaborating with business associates in acts of rape and sexual misconduct.  

Mace stated that she decided to come forward because the top prosecutor in her home state failed to take action despite her reporting the matter to investigators. That same prosecutor is expected to be her opponent if she decides to run for governor of South Carolina in 2026, a possibility she is considering.  

Declaring that she was taking a “scorched earth” approach, Mace recounted how, in November 2023, she “accidentally uncovered some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable. We’re talking about rape, non-consensual photos, non-consensual videos of women and underage girls, and the premeditated, calculated exploitation of women and girls in my district.”  

Mace identified four men as being involved in the alleged crimes, including Charleston-area businessman Patrick Bryant, who was engaged to her until 2023 and actively campaigned for her during her 2022 reelection bid.  

The Associated Press was unable to independently verify Mace’s allegations. Bryant responded to AP, stating, “I categorically deny these allegations. I take this matter seriously and will cooperate fully with any necessary legal processes to clear my name.”  

Mace accused South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson of deliberately delaying any investigation into Bryant and the other men, despite her providing state authorities with photos and videos as evidence.  

“Did South Carolina’s attorney general have any of these predators indicted after being provided clear cut-and-dry evidence including video, photos and witnesses?” Mace questioned, adding that her office had established a tip line for individuals with information related to the accusations.  

Following Mace’s speech, Wilson’s office issued a statement rejecting her claims about the prosecutor’s actions, calling them “categorically false” and asserting that the office “has not received any reports or requests for assistance from any law enforcement or prosecution agencies regarding these matters.”