Republican Representative Nancy Mace is under investigation by the House ethics committee over allegations that she improperly claimed more than $9,000 in reimbursements meant to subsidise housing costs for members of Congress. The nonpartisan Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) found that Mace's reimbursement requests exceeded her DC property expenses during several months in 2023 and 2024, resulting in an excess of $9,485.46.
The OCC stated there is “substantial reason to believe” that Mace engaged in improper reimbursement practices. She participated in a federal programme subsidising lodging, food, and travel for lawmakers who maintain households in both Washington DC and their districts. The report noted discrepancies between the amounts she requested and the total of associated bills.
The finding of excess reimbursements assumes Mace was responsible for 100% of property costs, despite her only having a 28% ownership stake. Mace declined to be interviewed by the OCC, which said it was unable to confirm the extent of her financial obligations. In a statement, her office accused the OCC of being partisan and retaliating against women. Mace posted on X that she is “not taking seriously” the ethics complaint.
An attorney for Mace, William Sullivan, called the OCC report “fundamentally flawed” and suggested it may have been influenced by her former fiancé, Patrick Bryant, who co-owned the property. Mace publicly accused Bryant and three other men of sexual misconduct in February; Bryant has denied the allegations and filed a defamation suit against her. Mace is not seeking re-election to the House but is running for the Republican nomination for governor of South Carolina, with the primary scheduled for 9 June.
