WASHINGTON — On Monday night, Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, addressed the House floor, making serious allegations against four men, including her former fiancé. She accused them of committing rape, sex trafficking, and other heinous sexual offenses against her and other female victims, describing these acts as “some of the most egregious crimes against women conceivable.”

Additionally, Mace criticized South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who may be a contender for the governor’s office in 2026, alleging that he failed to take action against the men after she provided his office with substantial evidence.

During her over 50-minute address, which garnered the attention of several GOP colleagues, her mother, and a group of female supporters, Mace stated, “I stand here today to confront the cowards who think they can exploit women without consequence. This evening, I am going scorched earth. Let the bridges I burn tonight illuminate our path ahead.”

She elaborated, “We are discussing serious issues like rape, the sharing of non-consensual images and videos of women and underage girls, and the premeditated exploitation of females in my district.”

All four individuals named by Mace have strongly denied the allegations when approached by NBC News. Patrick Bryant, Mace’s former fiancé and a software entrepreneur based in Charleston, stated, “I categorically refute these allegations. I take this matter very seriously and will fully cooperate with any necessary legal processes to clear my name.”

Mace is widely anticipated to enter the race for governor in 2026, where she may face Alan Wilson, the son of Rep. Joe Wilson, also a Republican from South Carolina.

In her speech, Mace accused Wilson of postponing the investigation into her allegations after she provided his office with graphic evidence, including videos, photos, and testimonials related to the assaults, cursing a delay of 228 days in the investigation.

Mace revealed harrowing details from November 2023, when she gained access to her ex-fiancé’s phone. She discovered distressing videos depicting “incapacitated” women being assaulted and was shocked to find herself among them. “I adjusted the volume to see if there was audio. To my horror, I recognized my own voice in the video,” Mace recounted. “My entire body felt paralyzed. Was I even breathing? I honestly don’t know.”

After presenting this evidence, Mace conveyed that Wilson’s office informed her that she would be under investigation. “Those who bring forth accusations within your jurisdiction are treated like criminals,” she stated. “Attorney General Alan Wilson, you are aware of the intentional delays in reacting to the evidence I submitted. It’s been 228 days of inertia to move forward on this case — nearly eight months of inaction while you avoided your responsibilities.”

Her remarks were delivered during a session labeled “general speeches,” a period when lawmakers can discuss any issue. Although House rules prohibit disparaging fellow members of Congress, they do not extend to allegations against private citizens. Mace asserted protection from potential legal repercussions through the Constitution’s “speech and debate” clause.

A spokesperson for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) stated that an investigation into claims of assault, harassment, and voyeurism was initiated in December 2023 after being alerted by U.S. Capitol Police, focusing primarily on Bryant.

The spokesperson noted, “Since then, SLED has conducted numerous interviews and issued several search warrants. We have compiled a comprehensive case file that will be made public upon conclusion of the investigation. This ongoing inquiry is intricate and involves several attorneys. Once finalized, the findings will be submitted to a prosecutor for further review.”

Wilson’s office responded to Mace’s claims of inaction, calling them “categorically false.” They stated, “Ms. Mace either misunderstands the role of the Attorney General or is deliberately mischaracterizing our actions. Our office has not received any reports or requests for assistance from law enforcement regarding these incidents until her public statements. The Attorney General and his staff were unaware of these allegations before this announcement.”

It was also highlighted that Mace and Wilson have attended multiple events together over the past six months, and that she possesses his personal cellphone number yet has never initiated conversation regarding these matters. Wilson’s office emphasized that they routinely guide citizens with evidence of crimes to their local law enforcement agencies, which are responsible for conducting investigations.

The statement concluded with an assertion of Wilson’s long-standing commitment to protect vulnerable individuals within the state, deeming Mace’s comments false and politically motivated.

In 2019, as a state lawmaker during a heated debate over a proposed abortion ban in South Carolina, Mace advocated for an exception for cases of rape and incest, publicly revealing for the first time that she had been a victim of sexual assault at the age of 16.