Mace sued for defamation by man she accused of abuse in floor speech
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is facing a defamation lawsuit filed by one of the four men she has publicly accused of sexual abuse in a floor speech, in a case that could test the legal protections members of Congress have for their official conduct.
The South Carolinian took to the House floor last month to accuse her ex-fiance, Charleston businessman Patrick Bryant, and three other men of rape, sex trafficking and nonconsensually filming sex acts with her and others.
Now Brian Musgrave, one of the other men Mace named on the House floor, is suing the member of Congress for defamation.
In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in South Carolina, he categorically denied the allegations leveled against him by Mace — saying he was not present during any alleged events Mace described and did not "film" or "incapacitate" anyone — adding she “and her team destroyed the lives” of Musgrave and his family.
The suit seeks an unspecified award for compensatory and punitive damages to be determined by a jury “sufficient to impress upon the Defendant the seriousness of her conduct and to deter such similar conduct in the future.”
When asked for a comment on the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Mace directed POLITICO to her original floor speech and a letter purportedly from House lawyers defending her speech as protected. Mace's office declined to supply the letter, instead pointing to a local news article quoting it.
The legal action also seeks to carve out an exception from the speech or debate clause of the Constitution, which provides a legal shield for members of Congress for acts taken as part of their roles as lawmakers, including “any Speech or Debate in either House.”
The clause “does not transform the floor of Congress into a sanctuary for defamation, nor does it protect Congresswoman Mace’s extra-Congressional defamatory statements surrounding her speech,” Musgrave’s suit asserts.
His lawsuit also points to some of Mace’s actions outside the House floor, including a draft of the speech circulating and posts on social media.
In her February speech, Mace claimed she was speaking out because South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson had declined to act upon evidence of abuse that she said she provided. But the top state prosecutor said Mace’s accusations of improper conduct by his office were “categorically false,” claiming the office had “no knowledge” of Mace’s alleged assault until her speech on the House floor.
Wilson and Mace are both considering bids for South Carolina governor in the state’s 2026 election.
Shortly after Mace’s public speech, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed that it is investigating Bryant. Bryant has categorically denied Mace’s allegations.
Topics
-
Mace sued for defamation over allegations in stunning floor speech
A man Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) accused of being part of a group of “predators” in a stunning House floor speech is suing her for defamation. The complaint, filed Friday in federal court, sets up a ...The Hill - 3h -
Texas man accused of violent assault on American Airlines flight to D.C.
The FBI arrested a Texas man, Asterius Rulamka, for allegedly beating one passenger, attempting to strike another, injuring a second passenger and vulgarly berating a flight attendant.CBS News - 4d -
This story isn’t about the priest who abused me. It’s about my mother
She was a master archivist of lies, enabling my stepfather’s crimes against me and my siblings. Despite everything, I needed to believe she loved me. The church, though aware of our abuser’s ...The Guardian - 3d -
Connecticut's 'lax' homeschooling rules could have aided boy's abuse, some education advocates say
After a Connecticut woman was accused of holding her stepson captive for two decades, education advocates said the state’s largely unregulated homeschooling system could allow abusive parents to ...NBC News - 23h -
Community speaks out after woman accused of holding man captive for years
The former principal and neighbors of a man who authorities believe was being held captive by his stepmother for 20 years in Waterbury, Connecticut, are speaking out. Kimberly Sullivan was arrested ...NBC News - 1d -
Man accused of violent assault on American Airlines flight from Wichita to D.C.
A Texas man has been arrested by the FBI for an alleged assault against multiple people on an American Airlines flight exactly five weeks after another American Airlines flight crashed while ...CBS News - 3d -
Woman charged after allegedly holding her stepson captive for more than 20 years
Kimberly Sullivan is accused of cruelty and abusing her stepson for more than 20 years. Police say the victim, a 32-year-old man, said he was kept locked away in a room since he was 11 years old. ...CBS News - 1d -
Daughter of Pelicot Accuses Him of Rape in Police Complaint
Dominique Pelicot, who was convicted of drugging and raping his wife for years, had denied abusing his daughter in a trial that horrified France.The New York Times - Mar. 7 -
Police detail over 20 years of abuse they say captive man suffered from stepmom
A severely emaciated Connecticut man was allegedly forced to urinate in bottles and locked inside for nearly 24 hours a day during two decades of captivity by his stepmother, police said Thursday.NBC News - 1d
More from Politico
-
Inside the Jeffries-Schumer Rupture
“To beat Trump, we need clarity of purpose, discipline and coordination," one top Democratic strategist said. "It’s clear none of that exists right now.”Politico - 1h -
Senate Democratic leadership split on funding bill
Politico - 2h -
Chuck Schumer is drowning in Dem criticism. Hakeem Jeffries refused to throw him a rope.
Politico - 5h -
Mark Kelly ditches his Tesla
Politico - 6h -
Pelosi slams 'false choice' on shutdown, indirectly criticizing Schumer
Politico - 7h
More in Politics
-
Senate Dems give up on shutdown
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Senate advances bill to prevent shutdown A group of 10 Democrats, including ...The Hill - 44m -
Live updates: Senate taking final vote on averting shutdown; Trump lays out plan for DOJ
The Senate inched closer to funding the government before the deadline Friday. Needing 60 votes to keep the lights on and prevent a shutdown beginning Saturday morning, the House-passed continuing ...The Hill - 47m -
Tech stocks return to earth
Presented by Ericsson — Plus: Exclusive look at "Middle Tech" AI push {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Tech stocks return to earth as AI explosion fizzles The world’s biggest ...The Hill - 51m -
Watch live: NASA launches SpaceX mission to return Boeing Starliner crew from space station
NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the Crew-10 mission to retrieve astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station on Thursday evening. Williams and Wilmore, part of ...The Hill - 57m -
ACLU releases video of Mahmoud Khalil's ICE arrest
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Friday released the full video of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest last weekend as outrage grows over his ...The Hill - 1h