Nancy Mace spotted leaving meeting with Epstein victims in tears

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) left a closed-door meeting with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims in tears Tuesday, September 2, later revealing she suffered a panic attack as she listened to their testimony.

Mace, who has previously spoken about surviving abuse, said on X that the stories triggered overwhelming anxiety, forcing her to step away from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee meeting.

The session, attended by six victims, comes as Congress ramps up investigations into how Epstein and his network evaded justice for years.

Nancy Mace describes panic attack after victims’ testimony

Photographed wiping tears as she exited the Capitol, Mace later explained her abrupt departure online, “As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full-blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I can’t breathe.”

She added, “I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS.”

James Comer and Mike Johnson meet Epstein victims

The meeting, also attended by Chairman James Comer and House Speaker Mike Johnson, lasted more than two hours.

Johnson said the objective was not only to investigate Epstein’s crimes but to ensure similar failures never occur again.

“The objective here is not just to uncover, investigate the Epstein evils, but also to ensure that this never happens again and ultimately to find out why justice has been delayed for these ladies for so very long,” Johnson said. “It is inexcusable. And it will stop now because the Congress is dialed in on this.”

The Oversight Committee released the first batch of more than 33,000 Epstein-related documents Tuesday night. Johnson said the Trump administration and Justice Department were committed to “maximum transparency,” though Democrats noted that most of the files had already been public.

While emphasizing her support for the document release, Mace pushed back on any suggestion that standing up to Epstein’s network conflicted with her party loyalty.

Nancy Mace tears up, internet reacts with mixed emotions

Mace’s emotional exit from a closed-door meeting with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims has drawn a wave of reactions online, from empathy to sharp criticism.

One said, "Seeing her break down like that says it all. If just hearing the survivors is this overwhelming, imagine carrying it. My heart is with them, may justice and empathy finally follow their voices."

Another wrote, "I'm proud of her and others for doing the right thing."

One commented, "About time somebody had a conscience," while another added, "First time she’s looked human."

Some were more critical, with one user writing, "The one and only good thing she has done!"

Robert Garcia demands faster release of documents

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the Oversight Committee’s top Democrat, said he welcomed the document dump but called it incomplete, “I’m glad all those files have been released to the American public, but most of it is already in the public record,” Garcia said. “What we need right now is full compliance with the subpoena, and the Attorney General, who once said that the files were on her desk, should release all the files immediately.”

Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell victims Teresa Helm and Jess Michaels are set to join Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) at a Wednesday press conference. Michaels told MSNBC, “What we’re looking for with all of these meetings is courage on the part of Republican representatives, because this is, most importantly, a bipartisan issue. This is not something that anyone on any side of the aisle should be for… No one should be for systems failing to prosecute over decades.”

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