Nancy Mace Shares Nude Photo of Herself During House Hearing

Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina on Tuesday displayed a still of what she said was her "naked silhouette" from a video her former fiance took without her consent.

Mace's ex-fiance, Patrick Bryant, has "categorically denied" her allegations and called them "false and outrageous" in a statement Tuesday. He added that he will take additional steps to clear his name "at the right time."

The Context

Mace first accused Bryant and three other men of sexual abuse and other sex crimes during a House floor speech in February.

During the speech, Mace said she was a victim of sexual assault and stood next to an easel that featured the four men's names and photos and had the word "PREDATORS" in large font across the top. All four men have repeatedly denied Mace's allegations.

The South Carolina lawmaker's speech kicked off a legal firestorm, with one of the accused, Brian Musgrave, filing a defamation lawsuit against her. Mace also filed a defamation suit against another one of the accused, Eric Bowman, in May.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has confirmed that Bryant is under investigation but has not provided additional details about the nature of the inquiry.

What To Know

Mace shared the nude image of herself during a House Oversight subcommittee hearing on "surveillance in private spaces" on Tuesday. The hearing was part of what she and other lawmakers on the panel have described as an effort to pass stronger legal protections for victims of non-consensual recordings and sexual misconduct.

The South Carolina lawmaker said during the hearing that Bryant recorded and took photos of her and other nude women and that he filmed "rape." She labeled his alleged actions "creepy" and "criminal."

Mace also repeated her allegations against her ex-fiance before Tuesday's hearing, writing in an X post: "Today I will show my naked body on one of the videos predator and rapist Patrick Bryant took of me and many other women. Without our knowledge. Without our permission. And without our consent."

The image of what Mace said was her nude body was displayed on an easel behind her during Tuesday's hearing.

She pointed to a yellow circle on the image, saying, "This naked silhouette is my naked body. I didn't know that I had been filmed. I didn't give my consent. I didn't give my permission and this particular video that Patrick Bryant recorded of me on his secret camera, he saved for over three years without my knowledge."

Bryant issued a new statement as Tuesday's hearing was underway, telling a South Carolina news website: "I categorically deny the false and outrageous claims made by Nancy Mace. I have never raped anyone. I have never hidden cameras. I have never harmed any woman. These accusations are not just false. They are malicious and deeply personal. My mistake was loving and trusting someone who later weaponized our relationship."

Bryant went on to accuse Mace of making her claims "only while standing in Congress, purportedly shielded by legal immunity."

"If she believed them to be true and there was evidence to support her accusations, she would say them outside the chamber, away from her public role and protections, and pursue them through proper legal channels," he said.

Bryant said that "multiple witnesses" have provided statements and testimony under oath "directly contradicting her claims and story." The South Carolina businessman said that by publicly making her allegations and displaying nude images of herself and other women—whose faces were blurred out—Mace was interfering with the ongoing SLED investigation, which Bryant said he has "fully cooperated" with.

In addition to Bryant, Mace also publicly accused three other men of rape, sex trafficking and non-consensually filming sex acts that involved her and other women.

Musgrave sued Mace for defamation in March. The lawsuit said Musgrave was not there during any of the events the South Carolina lawmaker described and that he did not "film" or "incapacitate" anyone.

What People Are Saying

Bryant said in his statement Tuesday: "Her allegations are absolutely baseless and I will, at the right time, do whatever is necessary and appropriate to clear my name, to prove my integrity and to restore my reputation in the community."

Ron Filipkowski, the editor-in-chief of the left-wing MeidasTouch Network, criticized Mace's decision to share the image of herself, writing on X: "Is there a way the point can be made without this? This is her ex-fiancé."

Mace wrote on X before Tuesday's hearing: "My bills will hold predators and rapists like Patrick Bryant accountable. I will hold the line for women and victims EVERYWHERE. With EVERY fiber of my being."

What Happens Next

Mace is currently considering launching a 2026 gubernatorial campaign in South Carolina.

Update 5/20/25 4:58 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and context.