Rep. Mace leaves meeting with Epstein victims visibly upset

(The Hill) – Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on Tuesday left early from a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee meeting with victims of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, appearing visibly upset when she emerged from the committee room.

Mace wiped tears from her face and averted reporters’ eyes as she walked past them, signaling she would not be taking questions.

Mace, who’s spoken publicly about her experience as a sexual assault survivor, addressed her early departure in a post on social media shortly thereafter, saying she had a “full blown panic attack” when listening to victims recount their experiences.

“Since it’s already being reported – Yes I left the Oversight briefing with Epstein victims early,” Mace wrote on the social platform X.

“As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories,” she continued. “Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I can’t breathe.”

“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,” she added.

Several Epstein accusers joined members of Congress for a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, as the House Oversight Committee continues its investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Epstein case.

Democrats called for a hearing with Epstein’s accusers, saying they have firsthand accounts that “may not be sufficiently represented in the Department of Justice’s records.” The Oversight Committee also subpoenaed the Justice Department for documents related to the case, which the department began turning over last month.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters ahead of the meeting that it’s important to hear from the victims and to promise them transparency in the investigation.

“Yes, it’s for us to hear from them, to express our deep sympathy for what they’ve been made to endure and ensure that we have been and always will be for maximum transparency, for justice to be brought for all those engaged in these evils and to ensure that happens as quickly as possible,” Johnson said Tuesday.