Epstein files floor speech and Oversight briefing (Sept. Nov. 2025)
In September 2025, Rep. Mace left an Oversight Committee briefing with Epstein victims early, describing a panic attack. On November 18, 2025, she delivered a floor speech supporting the House vote to force release of all Jeffrey Epstein files.
Rep. Nancy Mace's documented public engagement with the Jeffrey Epstein file-release effort spans two distinct moments in fall 2025.
September 2, 2025, Oversight briefing departure. Mace left a closed-door House Oversight Committee briefing with Jeffrey Epstein's victims before it concluded. That evening she posted on X explaining her early departure:
"Since it's already being reported, Yes I left the Oversight briefing with Epstein victims early. As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I can't breathe."
The post came after news outlets reported on her departure from the briefing.
November 18, 2025, House floor speech and vote. On the day the House passed legislation requiring the Justice Department to release Epstein-related documents, Mace took the floor and said she wanted to "be a vessel" for survivors of sexual abuse. In her remarks she stated: "Today, we see you. This is about justice for the Epstein victims. But this is also about hope. This is about the powerless." Mace had stood as one of four Republicans who signed House Resolution 1434, the discharge petition that forced a floor vote on releasing the Epstein files.
The November 18 floor speech was covered by ABC News 4, WBUR, and Mace's own congressional press office. C-SPAN archived the remarks.
Source. X / @NancyMace (Sept. 2, 2025) | Newsweek (Sept. 2025) | ABC News 4 (Nov. 18, 2025) | WBUR / Here & Now (Nov. 18, 2025) | mace.house.gov (Nov. 18, 2025)
On the Record
Mace tweet: 'Full blown panic attack' after leaving Epstein victims briefing early
On September 2, 2025, Mace posted on X explaining she had left an Oversight Committee briefing with Epstein victims early, describing a panic attack she said was triggered by listening to their accounts.
After Mace finishes fifth in the governor's primary, a circulating post-election essay calls her collapse 'years in the making', Mace blames her Epstein-files vote
A post-election essay by writer Mike Broemmel, circulating on Facebook, frames Nancy Mace's fifth-place finish in the June 9, 2026 South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary as the cumulative result of years of staff turnover, feuds and controversy, 'the cumulative effect of chaos.' Mace finished last among the major candidates with about 11 percent and did not advance to the June 23 runoff between Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson. Mace has denied the kinds of former-staff accounts the essay recycles and attributes her defeat to her vote to release the Epstein files.
'I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election': Mace blames her Epstein-files vote for the loss
After her fifth-place finish in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary, Nancy Mace attributed her defeat to her vote to release the unredacted Epstein files over President Trump's objections, and marked the loss with a baked-beans photo on X, a callback to a viral 2024 meme.
Mace concedes fifth place: "I voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that"
On June 9, 2026, after finishing fifth with roughly 12.1 percent of the vote in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary, Mace said she lost support because of her vote to release the Epstein files and called it a choice made on principle.
Mace on CNN: releasing the Epstein files was "a price I am unwilling to pay" for an endorsement
On CNN on June 7, 2026, days before the South Carolina governor primary, Mace said that if Trump's endorsement required her not to vote to release the Epstein files, it was "a price I am unwilling to pay."
"NO REGRETS": Trump endorses Evette over Mace; Mace ties the snub to her Epstein vote
On May 29, 2026, President Trump endorsed Mace's primary rival Pam Evette for South Carolina governor. Mace responded on X with "NO REGRETS," directly linking the endorsement snub to her vote to release the Epstein files.
Mace commends Melania Trump for advocating for Epstein survivors
On April 9, 2026, Mace publicly commended First Lady Melania Trump for her advocacy on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein survivors, a notable alignment with the Trump family even as Mace continued fighting the Justice Department over file releases.
Mace after Bondi's firing: "She has stonewalled every effort to hold the guilty accountable"
On April 2, 2026, the day President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, Mace issued a statement accusing Bondi of handling the Epstein files in a "terrible manner" and stonewalling the committee's accountability efforts.
Mace's second subpoena targets the congressional sexual-harassment "slush fund"
Also on March 4, 2026, the House Oversight Committee passed Mace's second subpoena, targeting records from the congressional office that paid out sexual-harassment settlements on behalf of members, though the full House later voted 357-65 to refer the matter back to the Ethics Committee, effectively killing it.
"One of the greatest cover-ups in American history": Oversight subpoenas Bondi on Mace's motion (24-19)
On March 4, 2026, the House Oversight Committee voted 24-19 to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi on Mace's motion, as Mace declared the Epstein case "one of the greatest cover-ups in American history."
Mace questions Hillary Clinton in released Oversight deposition video
The House Oversight Committee released video of Hillary Clinton's Feb. 26 deposition on March 2, 2026. Mace's questioning, including a heated exchange over Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and 9/11, drew sharply conflicting reviews, with critics saying Clinton bested Mace and Mace's own camp calling Clinton 'unhinged.'
Mace says DOJ is withholding "terabytes" of Epstein records
On NewsNation on February 24, 2026, Mace said the DOJ had not released all the Epstein files and estimated the withheld material amounted to terabytes of data and potentially millions of documents.
Mace presses the CIA on any relationship with Epstein and Maxwell
On February 17, 2026, Mace sent a letter to CIA Director John Ratcliffe demanding disclosure of any relationship between the CIA and Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.
Mace demands the unredacted Epstein co-conspirator memo from SDNY
On February 16, 2026, Mace sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton III demanding the unredacted 2019 SDNY memorandum on Epstein co-conspirators.
"This isn't going away until people go to jail": Mace rejects Bondi's claim all files were released
On February 15, 2026, Mace posted a scathing social media thread rejecting AG Pam Bondi's claim that all Epstein files had been released, warning the issue would not go away until people were jailed.
Mace demands DOJ explain why Epstein files were pulled from its public site
On February 12, 2026, Mace pressed the DOJ to explain why Epstein files had been removed from its public website, warning that one accomplice could not account for thousands of victims.
"It's creepy": Mace says DOJ is tracking which Epstein files members of Congress open
On February 11, 2026, Mace said the DOJ was monitoring which Epstein files members of Congress opened and when, calling the surveillance of congressional access "creepy."
"Your days are numbered": Mace demands release after reviewing unredacted files at DOJ
On February 11, 2026, Mace spoke out after reviewing unredacted Epstein files at the DOJ, warning that princes, former presidents, and billionaires named in the records would be held accountable.
Mace demands Bill Gates testify under oath about his relationship with Epstein
On February 4, 2026, Mace announced a demand that Bill Gates testify before the House Oversight Committee about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
"A historic day for every survivor": Mace on the House floor as the Epstein files bill passes 427-1
On November 18, 2025, the House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act 427-1. Mace, speaking on the floor, called it a historic day for survivors nationwide.
Mace defies Trump pressure: "I was one of four Republicans" to sign the Epstein petition
On November 13, 2025, Mace publicly confirmed she had signed the discharge petition to force release of the Epstein files, standing firm after Trump pressured Republican signers to back down.