Nancy Mace shows 'naked' photos in hearing, in push to tighten sexual misconduct laws
WASHINGTON − Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, held up a blurry, black and white photo of what she said was her "naked silhouette" during a House hearing May 20.
The image, Mace claimed, was a screenshot from a video taken without her consent on a "secret camera" by her ex-fiancé Patrick Bryant.
"I didn't pick this fight. I don't even want to be here today and discuss this," Mace said in her opening statements as chair of a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee.
Bryant is one of four men Mace accused of sexual misconduct, including raping herself and other women, during a graphic House floor speech in February. Outside her congressional office, Mace displays a poster with each of their photos, names and cities of residence, sandwiched between the words "PREDATORS" and "STAY AWAY FROM."
Her former partner has repeatedly denied her accusations. In a statement to multiple outlets, Bryant called the allegations from Mace "false and outrageous."
"I have never raped anyone. I have never hidden cameras. I have never harmed any woman," Bryant said following the May 20 hearing. "These accusations are not just false—they are malicious and deeply personal."
"My mistake was loving and trusting someone who later weaponized our relationship," he added.
Another man accused by Mace, Brian Musgrave, filed a lawsuit for defamation against Mace in March.
During the May House meeting, Mace showed additional images showing what she said were other women filmed without their knowledge while changing. (Their bodies were each covered entirely by pasted yellow circles, Mace said.)
The South Carolina lawmaker has said she is advocating for stricter laws protecting victims of non-consensual recordings.