Congresswoman Nancy Mace, a Republican representative from South Carolina, is currently the subject of a formal investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The probe centres on allegations that she improperly overcharged a taxpayer-funded programme designed to cover housing, meal, and travel expenses for lawmakers residing outside Washington, DC.
Details of the Alleged Overpayment
The Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), a nonpartisan body responsible for investigating misconduct on Capitol Hill, has published a report claiming that Representative Mace was overpaid by approximately $9,500 for her housing costs. The allegations specifically pertain to a $1.98 million Capitol Hill townhouse she previously co-owned with her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant.
The OCC report states: "Information available to and reviewed by the OCC suggests that Rep. Mace was reimbursed more than the true costs for the property during several months in 2023 and 2024." The report further notes that Mace did not participate in interviews with the OCC during their investigation.
Background of the Reimbursement Programme
The programme in question, launched in 2023, allows members of Congress to claim reimbursements for housing expenses provided they maintain a primary residence in their home district alongside their Washington, DC accommodation. However, the initiative has faced increasing scrutiny because the reimbursement process does not mandate lawmakers to submit a detailed, itemised list of expenditures to receive funds.
The investigation was initiated after discrepancies were identified in the bills Mace submitted for reimbursement. These discrepancies related to the DC property's expenses, including utility bills and escrow amounts designated for property taxes and insurance.
Response from Mace and Her Representatives
A spokesperson for Congresswoman Mace strongly refuted the allegations in a statement to the Daily Mail. "Rep. Mace provided exculpatory evidence to the OCC. They ignored it. The document at the foundation of their investigation? The OCC admitted was never verified," the spokesperson asserted.
Mace herself responded vehemently on social media, posting: "When you fight the swamp, the swamp fights back." She suggested the timing of the probe was politically motivated, adding, "It’s no coincidence that in the same hour the tapes of me deposing the Clintons come out, I’m slapped with a story about a BS Ethics Investigation." Mace recently served on a panel that deposed Bill and Hillary Clinton regarding their alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Legal Challenges and Personal Disputes
Mace's legal counsel, William Sullivan, has formally responded to the OCC, characterising their report as "fundamentally flawed." In a letter to the Ethics Committee, Sullivan argued that the OCC's narrative "appears to incorporate unverified assertions and materials that may have originated from, or been influenced by, Rep. Mace’s former fiancé, Brendan Patrick Bryant."
The personal relationship between Mace and Bryant, which ended in 2023, has become increasingly acrimonious. In February 2025, Mace publicly accused Bryant and three other men of being sexual predators who allegedly drugged, molested, and filmed multiple female victims, including herself. All the accused men have denied any wrongdoing. Bryant subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Mace, accusing her of fabricating fake gang rape allegations in an attempt to blackmail him.
The House Ethics Committee has emphasised that opening an investigation "does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred." The probe remains ongoing as officials examine the complex financial and personal circumstances surrounding the reimbursement claims for the DC townhouse, which Mace and Bryant co-owned until 2024.
