Congresswoman Nancy Mace faces serious allegations from her former fiancé, Patrick Bryant, who has filed a lawsuit claiming she fabricated a gang rape accusation to blackmail him out of shared properties worth millions. This explosive situation, first highlighted by the Daily Mail, accuses Mace of unauthorized access to Bryant’s phone data and constructing false criminal claims for her own benefit.
According to court documents, Bryant contends that Mace hacked his phone on November 13, 2023, just after their breakup. He asserts that she used a phone data extraction app, threatening to release compromising images if he did not transfer ownership of two luxury homes they co-owned, located in South Carolina and Washington, D.C.
“She told me she found a video on my phone that she would use to ruin me if I didn’t give her the houses,” Bryant claims. “It was a complete fabrication. There is no video, because no assault ever happened.” This assertion lays the groundwork for Bryant’s accusations of manipulation and deceit.
Central to the suit is a grave assertion suggesting that Mace and an associate, Melissa Britton, influenced a former employee named Jane Doe into believing she had been gang-raped by Bryant and two others at a party in October 2018. According to the lawsuit, the woman was convinced of the existence of evidence despite having no recollection of any assault. “Unfortunately for Doe, she is a pawn in Mace’s and Britton’s elaborate scheme for their personal gain,” the complaint states, firmly denying any assault transpired.
The claims also detail a sequence of covert actions following Bryant and Mace’s split. Bryant asserts that Mace used spyware to infiltrate his personal communications, hoping to find material to further her fabricated claims. The lawsuit mentions that using the app “Dr. Fone,” Mace accessed Bryant’s personal photographs and communications, purportedly to bolster her accusations.
Mace allegedly directed her political consultant, Wesley Donehue, to act as a go-between, warning Bryant that damaging photos would be leaked if he did not comply. Donehue’s dismissive reaction to the accusations reflects the charged nature of the situation. “It’s just another day of Nancy Mace drama,” he remarked, indicating public fatigue with the controversies surrounding her.
This legal mess has been accompanied by significant political fallout. In a January 2024 session of the U.S. House, Mace condemned Bryant and three other men, suggesting they were involved in a plot against her. Bryant maintains that these allegations are retaliatory and unfounded. “She now tries to hide behind the privileges of her office,” he told the Daily Mail. Bryant claims this countersuit intends to defend those wrongfully accused, portraying himself as the real victim in a malicious narrative.
The ongoing probe by South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) began in December 2023 based on Mace’s testimony about findings on Bryant’s devices, including thousands of photos and alleged recordings. Up to this point, no criminal charges have been filed against Bryant or his associates, highlighting the complicated legal landscape surrounding the case.
The contradictory claims and rapidly changing narratives reveal a tumultuous dispute with consequences that extend well beyond personal grievances. A South Carolina court previously found Bryant and his lawyer had filed a “false and malicious lawsuit” against Mace, reprimanding them for misusing the legal system. Despite this ruling, Bryant perseveres, alleging Mace’s behavior to be psychologically unstable and marred by invasions of privacy.
Evidence presented by Bryant, including texts, phone data, and download records from the spyware, support his allegations. Notably, he claims that Jane Doe has now expressed doubt about Mace’s account, indicating that her beliefs were solely based on Mace’s influence, rather than actual memories of events. This development raises serious concerns about the integrity of accusations made under emotionally charged circumstances.
John Osborne and Eric Bowman, two other men connected to the case, have categorically denied any wrongdoing. “This is an outrageous lie,” Bowman stated emphatically. “There was no such event. It’s character assassination.” Such denials further complicate the landscape of claims, suggesting an ongoing battle over narrative control.
The situation encapsulates deeper issues about ethics, credibility, and the intersection of personal disputes with public accusations. As Mace grapples with these challenges, she finds herself at the center of a legal struggle that has the potential to reshape perceptions of both her political career and the credibility of accusations made in high-stakes environments.
“The only victim is Bryant,” the complaint argues succinctly, framing him as a businessman wrongfully targeted by false claims. Mace has yet to submit a formal response to Bryant’s latest allegations, but she did respond with sarcasm, stating that Bryant seems to be “asking to write me another check.”
As both sides brace for further legal developments, experts suggest this case raises critical questions about congressional privilege and the misuse of the legal system for personal vendettas. With ongoing investigations and civil suits looming, the next chapter promises to unveil more twists in what has become a deeply public battle over trust, truth, and the fragility of reputations.
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