An investigation into the explosive claims of sexual assault made by Rep. Nancy Mace towards her former fiancé has been energetic and ongoing for greater than a 12 months, South Carolina state police confirmed.
The South Carolina Regulation Enforcement Division launched its probe into the congresswoman’s former beau, Patrick Byrant, on Dec. 14, 2023, on allegations of assault, harassment and voyeurism after being contacted by US Capitol Police, the company stated.
“Since that date, SLED has conducted multiple interviews, served multiple search warrants, and has a well-documented case file that will be available for release upon the conclusion of the case,” the company stated in a press release to The Put up.
“This active and ongoing investigation is complex and has involved multiple lawyers. Once the investigation is completed, it will be sent to a prosecutor for review,” SLED added.
The Palmetto State Republican, 47, accused Bryant and three enterprise companions of committing rape and different sexual crimes towards herself and a dozen different ladies and underage women – allegations her ex has since denied.
The congresswoman claimed she discovered a trove of greater than 10,000 movies and different photographic proof contained on the cellphone of her former husband-to-be in November 2023 – proof she didn’t current throughout her speech on Monday within the Home of Representatives.
“I accidentally uncovered some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable – we are talking about rape, nonconsensual photos, nonconsensual videos of women and underage girls, and the premediated, calculated exploitation of women and girls in my district,” Mace stated.
“Today you will hear about the depraved men behind these gutless, evil acts. These men didn’t just harm their victims; they recorded their depravity as if it were a badge of honor.”
The digital recordsdata embrace specific covert photographs of feminine workers, wives of male workers and different ladies, together with upskirting pictures of the underage daughter of a enterprise affiliate, Mace claimed.
She informed lawmakers she needed to inform one girl that she’d unknowingly been raped after discovering a video of Bryant and one in every of his enterprise associates allegedly recording one other enterprise affiliate sexually assaulting an “incapacitated” girl.
“She had no idea because she was incapacitated at the time of the rape. I knew she was raped because I accidentally found the video of her being raped,” Mace stated.
“The two of them, the three of them business partners — the two of them had their phones out just like this. Filming her as she was being raped. And she was completely laid out. There was no movement. There was no life. I couldn’t even tell if this young woman was alive.”
Mace additionally recounted the horrifying second she discovered a video of herself “undressed” and “unaware she was being filmed” on her former fiancé’s cellphone – a discovery she claims led to Bryant bodily assaulting her.
She stated she was compelled out of her residence and “into hiding” the next month, transferring in with associates and altering addresses at the very least 4 occasions in a single 12 months.
“I still have the mark Patrick Bryant made on me. Rather than see this mark as a scar, I see this scar as the mark of a free woman; free from a monster,” Mace stated, including that she was subsequently identified with post-traumatic stress dysfunction.
“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,” the congresswoman added. “That is the definition of freedom. This is a story about predators who hunt women for sport.”
Mace additionally alleged that one in every of Bryant’s enterprise associates “tried to intimidate” her from bringing the proof to gentle – whereas slamming South Carolina Legal professional Normal Alan Wilson for intentionally stalling the investigation and failing to guard feminine victims.
“If anyone would like to arrest me for standing up for women — here are my wrists. Arrest me. Take me to jail,” she threatened.
“I am 100% guilty for turning over evidence of peeping Toms, or turning over evidence of rape, of turning over evidence of voyeurism, of turning over evidence of sex trafficking and who knows, probably a whole heck of a lot more and more crimes I don’t have time to get into tonight.”
Mace then stated Wilson was “not a real man” as a result of “real men protect women.”
Wilson’s workplace refuted Mace’s statements concerning the conduct and position of the legal professional common as “categorically false” and “politically motivated,” including she has not personally contacted him about her considerations or spoken with him on the a number of occasions they’ve attended collectively “over the last six months.”
“Ms. Mace either does not understand or is purposefully mischaracterizing the role of the Attorney General,” learn a press release from the South Carolina AG’s workplace.
“At this time, our 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 AG’s workplace stated it’s as much as native regulation enforcement companies to research potential proof of crime.
Bryant has additionally “categorically” denied the allegations levied towards him.
“I take this matter seriously and will cooperate fully with any necessary legal processes to clear my name,” Bryant stated in a press release to the New York Occasions.
When you’ve got been sexually assaulted and stay in New York, you may name 1-800-942-6906 at no cost and confidential disaster counseling. In the event you stay exterior the state, you may dial the 24/7 Nationwide Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
