Rep. Nancy Mace released a wave of allegations on the House floor Monday night accusing her former fiancé and three of his business associates of sexual assault, sex trafficking and voyeurism involving several women.

According to Ms. Mace, the men made videos of the acts and she was a victim as well. 

Ms. Mace, South Carolina Republican, said that she inadvertently found the video evidence in cellphones and hidden cameras, along with many images taken of women without their consent.

“I’m living proof — even as a member of Congress — I found myself face-to-face with the darkest corners of humanity. You really think you know someone, until you don’t,” Ms. Mace said.

Ms. Mace said she was speaking out because South Carolina’s top prosecutor did not take action even after she alerted investigators.

“Attorney General Alan Wilson, be careful what you wish for — your record speaks loud and clear,” she said. “Women who come forward are treated like criminals under your leadership, in your system, and on your watch.”

Mr. Wilson is Ms. Mace’s likely GOP primary opponent if, as expected, she runs for governor of South Carolina in 2026.

“In November 2023, I accidentally uncovered some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable — rape, nonconsensual photos and videos of women and underage girls, and the premeditated, calculated, exploitation of innocent women and girls in my district,” Ms. Mace recounted on the House floor.

She added, “These men didn’t just harm their victims; they recorded their depravity as if it were a badge of honor.”

The congresswoman named four men as being involved, including Charleston-area businessman Patrick Bryant, who was her fiancé and campaigned for her during her 2022 reelection campaign. They broke up in 2023.

Mr. Bryant disputed Ms. Mace’s accusations.

“I categorically deny these allegations. I take this matter seriously and will cooperate fully with any necessary legal processes to clear my name,” he said.

Mr. Wilson’s office, in a statement following her remarks, called her comments about the prosecutor’s conduct “categorically false” and said the office “has not received any reports or requests for assistance from any law enforcement or prosecution agencies regarding these matters.”

“Additionally, the Attorney General and members of his office have had no role and no knowledge of these allegations until her public statements,” the statement said.

Ms. Mace, first elected to Congress in 2020, previously served in South Carolina’s state House and was the first woman to graduate from the Citadel, the state’s military college.

In a statement about her decision to talk about these allegations on the House floor, she said that members’ statements there “are quintessential ‘legislative acts’” and thereby protected by the “speech or debate” clause, which largely protects lawmakers from being sued for what they say.

“This isn’t a story about bitter ex-girlfriends or consensual sex tapes — there are plenty of those. I don’t care what two consenting adults agree to do,” Ms. Mace said.

She listed several pieces of legislation which she had worked on ranging from stopping voyeurism to banning transgender women from using women’s bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol or House office buildings.

In 2019, Ms. Mace spoke publicly for the first time about a sexual assault she said had happened over 20 years ago, addressing South Carolina legislative colleagues in advocating for adding a rape and incest exception to a state House ban on all abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat.

• This article includes wire service reports.

• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.