Republican U.S. Representative Nancy Mace has been hit with a lawsuit by her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant, who is accusing her of fabricating a sexual assault narrative and orchestrating a scheme to damage his reputation.
The complaint was lodged on Thursday in Charleston County, South Carolina. Bryant, a Charleston businessman, alleges that the congresswoman conspired with the estranged wife of a friend to carry out the reputational attack, which also targeted another acquaintance, Eric Bowman.
Accusations Stem from House Floor Speech
The core of the lawsuit centers on an explosive speech Mace delivered on the House floor in February. During that speech, Mace named four men, including Bryant, whom she accused of drugging, molesting, and filming women without their consent.
In his complaint, Bryant asserts that these accusations were “entirely false” and were part of a deliberate “blackmail scheme” initiated after their relationship ended in November 2023.
Allegations of Hacking and False Narrative
The lawsuit lays out dramatic claims regarding Mace’s alleged actions following the breakup:
- Hacking and Tracking: Mace allegedly hacked Bryant’s phone and installed tracking devices on his car, gaining access to private data.
- Fabricated Video Claim: Mace and Bowman’s estranged wife allegedly contacted a former employee, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, to tell her they had discovered a video showing her being “gang raped” by Bryant, Bowman, and another man, John Osborne.
- Victim Denies Incident: The woman, however, reportedly denied any memory of such an incident and confirmed she had never seen the purported video.
Bryant insists that Mace “concocted an entire false narrative” with the intent to destroy him professionally and personally, maintaining that he is “the only victim” in the ordeal. He is suing the Congresswoman for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Nancy Mace’s Response
Rep. Mace, who is preparing for a 2026 gubernatorial bid in South Carolina, quickly dismissed the allegations, publicly branding the lawsuit as baseless retaliation.
Responding to a commentator’s post about the lawsuit on X (formerly Twitter), Mace wrote: “This is false. And you may want to take it down before you also get sued. This is your warning. First and last.”
In a formal statement, she also referenced Bryant’s recent court sanction for improper legal conduct and indicated her aggressive plan to fight the lawsuit, stating, “It’s almost as if Patrick Bryant is asking to write me another check.”
Mace announced plans to file a motion to dismiss the complaint and pursue counterclaims for abuse of process and conspiracy.