Capitol Police arrest man accused of assaulting Nancy Mace
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Rep. Nancy Mace outside the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 21, 2024. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.
The Capitol Police said Tuesday that they arrested a 33-year-old man accused of assaulting Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).
The big picture: Mace claimed she sustained injuries to her wrist and arm and alleged that the incident was in response to her recent vocal advocacy for transgender bathroom bans.
- "One new brace for my wrist and some ice for my arm and it'll heal just fine," she said in a post on X.
- Several witnesses have accused Mace of over-dramatizing the incident and calling the police unnecessarily.
What they're saying: "Tonight, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) arrested a person who is accused of assaulting a U.S. Representative," a Capitol Police spokesperson said in a statement.
- "Just before 6:00 p.m., the Member of Congress' office reported an incident in the Rayburn House Office Building. House Division officers, and agents with the Threat Assessment Section, tracked down the suspect."
- "After an investigative interview, officers arrested the suspect, 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois. McIntyre is facing a charge for Assaulting a Government Official," per the statement.
What we're hearing: The incident occurred at an event of the Foster Youth Caucus at which Mace, a co-chair of the group, spoke, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
- The Capitol Police said McIntyre was present in the building lawfully after passing through a security screening, with sources telling Axios he was there for the event.
The other side: Foster youth advocate Elliott Hinkle, who was at the event, told The Imprint that what Mace calls assault was "a normal handshake and interaction that I would expect any legislator to expect from anyone as a constituent."
- The outlet cited two anonymous witnesses who confirmed Hinkle's version of events.
- Another attendee at the event, Lisa Dickson, voiced "deep disappointment" in Mace in a post on Facebook, saying that McIntyre was "simply shaking her hand and asking about trans rights."
- Requests for comment sent to an email and phone number believed to belong to McIntyre were not immediately returned.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
