South Carolina – The House Committee on Ethics has opened a formal investigation into Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina after receiving a referral from the Office of Congressional Conduct, setting in motion a deeper review of her financial reimbursement claims.
The committee confirmed that it received the referral on Dec. 2, 2025. Under House rules, members voted on Jan. 16, 2026, to extend their preliminary review. On March 2, the panel announced it would proceed under Committee Rule 18(a), a step that allows investigators to gather additional information before deciding what action, if any, is warranted.
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In its public statement, the committee stressed that moving forward with further review does not mean any violation has been found. It emphasized that continuing an inquiry is a procedural requirement and does not reflect a conclusion about the allegations. Citing confidentiality rules and fairness to those involved, the panel said it will not make further public comments until its initial review is complete.
As required by House rules, the committee also released the Office of Congressional Conduct’s report and findings, along with a written submission Mace provided on Dec. 17, 2025.
In a 13-page report, the Office of Congressional Conduct concluded there is “substantial reason to believe” that Mace may have sought reimbursement for lodging expenses that exceeded her actual costs under the Members’ Representational Allowance program. The office voted unanimously, 6-0, to refer the matter to the Ethics Committee for further examination, citing potential violations of House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.
The reimbursement program, adopted in late 2022, permits members of Congress to request repayment for certain Washington lodging expenses, up to federal per diem limits. Investigators reviewed reimbursement requests Mace submitted between January 2023 and May 2024. They compared those filings to utility bills, tax documents, and other records related to a Washington, D.C., property she co-owned with her then-fiancé.
According to the OCC’s findings, reimbursement amounts exceeded documented property expenses in multiple months during 2023 and 2024. The office calculated an aggregate excess of $9,485.46 for the period examined. In several instances, the report states, Mace requested and received the maximum allowable reimbursement even when available records suggested her expenses were lower.
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Investigators also noted they could not fully determine Mace’s financial responsibility for the property because she declined to be interviewed and did not provide documentation demonstrating she personally paid the full lodging expenses in question. The OCC recommended the Ethics Committee consider issuing subpoenas to Mace and other individuals who declined to cooperate.
In a letter to the committee, Mace’s attorney, William Sullivan of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, described the OCC’s report as “fundamentally flawed.” He argued that it relied on unverified information that may have come from Mace’s former fiancé following what he characterized as a contentious end to their engagement.
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Her legal team stated that the former fiancé, Bryant, exercised primary control over shared financial accounts and records tied to the Washington property. According to the letter, staff preparing reimbursement submissions relied on cost information supplied by him and his accountant.
Counsel also said Mace did not have independent access to certain financial records after the relationship ended and asked the OCC to clarify whether her former fiancé or his associates contributed to the investigation, a request they say was declined.
The Ethics Committee’s next steps will unfold behind closed doors as it continues its review.
Nancy Mace confronted Trump about the Epstein files
Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina broke with members of her own party in November 2025 when she joined three other Republicans in signing a discharge petition aimed at forcing a House vote to release unredacted files tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
The move came despite direct pressure from then-President-elect Donald Trump and his team to withdraw support. Trump publicly dismissed the effort as a “hoax” and characterized it as a partisan attack.
Mace, however, stood by her decision, writing on social media that Trump had been “exonerated by Epstein victims” while maintaining that full transparency was necessary. She later voted in favor of releasing the materials and aligned herself with survivors who have long called for broader disclosure.
After a partial release of documents, Mace intensified her efforts. She traveled to the Department of Justice to review unredacted files and began compiling what she described as a “list of names” for potential depositions.
Her inquiries extended beyond the Justice Department, with formal requests for additional records sent to agencies including the CIA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The congresswoman argued that key materials remained withheld or heavily redacted, fueling ongoing public skepticism about the scope of the investigation and the handling of sensitive evidence.
Earlier this month, Mace escalated the dispute further by moving to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Trump appointee, seeking access to what she described as missing or improperly redacted Epstein-related materials, including videos and photographs.
The action has drawn mixed reactions within Republican circles. Some Trump supporters have accused Mace of unfairly targeting the administration, while others have applauded her willingness to press for accountability, even when it places her at odds with party leadership.
