Nancy Mace faces House Ethics Committee investigation over $1.6M townhouse
WASHINGTON, DC: The House Ethics Committee announced Friday, January 16, that it has opened an investigation into allegations involving Rep Nancy Mace.
Mace, a conservative lawmaker, is a candidate for South Carolina governor.
The probe appears linked to prior complaints about Mace's lodging expense reimbursements for a townhouse she co-owns with her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant.
The committee has not outlined specific allegations yet.
Emphasizing that the investigation does not imply wrongdoing, the committee said they will announce their "course of action" on Mace's probe by March 2.
Why House Ethics Committee is probing Mace
A bipartisan body, the House Ethics Committee said that the matter concerning Mace was referred by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) on December 2, 2025.
Meanwhile, Mace’s spokesperson told The Hill about a November 21, 2025 press release in which the lawmaker alleged that her former fiance Bryant helped "initiate" the OCC investigation specifically targeting her "lodging reimbursements."
The panel in a statement said, “The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.”
The Washington Post had reported on the financials in question in June 2024.
The report noted that Mace co-owns a Capitol Hill townhouse valued at $1,649,000, which she purchased in 2021 with Bryant.
According to congressional data cited in the report, Mace expensed a total of $27,817 in 2023, which averages to more than $2,300 per month.
The data also indicated specific months where expenses were notably high; for instance, she expensed more than $3,000 for lodging in January, March and May of 2024.
Mace claims vendetta by ex-fiance
Mace has vigorously denied any wrongdoing, framing the investigation as a "retribution campaign" stemming from a personal legal conflict. In a statement addressing the reimbursement figures, Mace claimed that she had actually incurred over $100,000 in lodging expenses in DC.
She said she had received only about $29,000 in reimbursements after taxes. “Do the math,” she had said then. Mace also directed sharp criticism toward Bryant, alleging his involvement was motivated by fear of legal consequences.
"Bryant is terrified he might go to jail. And if he does, my female constituents will be safer for it," she said. She further argued that the situation highlights systemic flaws, stating, "This just goes to show how broken the system is when a predator can viciously go after his victims in this way and is permitted to do so regardless of the facts."
The investigation comes at a politically sensitive time, as Mace is currently running for governor of South Carolina.
The probe has already drawn reactions from her political rivals. The campaign for South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who is also vying for the governorship, weighed in on the controversy shortly after the news broke.
A spokesperson for Wilson’s campaign emphasized the need for public trust, stating, "South Carolinians expect honesty, accountability and integrity from those who seek public office." The spokesperson added that when an elected official faces an ethics investigation, "it raises serious and legitimate concerns that deserve transparency and answers."
