Nancy Mace Doubles Down on Attack Comments Amid Handshake Claims
Nancy Mace has doubled down on claims she was assaulted after witnesses contradicted her account, claiming the suspect merely shook her hand and asked her to support the rights of transgender people.James McIntyre, 33, of Illinois, was arrested on Tuesday evening in connection with the incident, which happened inside the Rayburn House building, and charged with assaulting a government official.
On Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.Police said they were able to track down McIntyre after Mace's office reported the assault shortly before 6 p.m., with the representative claiming in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that she was "physically accosted.""I was physically accosted at the Capitol tonight by a pro-tr*ns man," Mace wrote. "One new brace for my wrist and some ice for my arm, and it'll heal just fine.
The Capitol Police arrested the guy."But three witnesses at the scene have contradicted her claims, telling The Imprint and The Hill that McIntyre merely shook Mace's hand at a Foster Youth Caucus reception and asked her to support the rights of transgender people.
Mace, who co-chairs the congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, spoke at the reception, telling attendees she looked forward to working with them."James [McIntyre] met her by the door where people could see her and him to say, 'trans youth are in foster care and they need your support,' and gave a handshake and then walked back to his seat and sat down," one witness told The Hill, describing it as a "pretty normal interaction."According to the police report from the incident, the suspect "violently shook" Mace's hand and "made threats."Mace has continued to double down on her claims, posting on X: "Women shouldn't be threatened OR accosted for speaking up for our rights."In another post, she also expressed gratitude to President-elect Donald Trump for checking in on her. "Thank you President Trump for the call just now to check in on me.
