Wesley Donehue is a South Carolina Republican political strategist and internet consultant, founder and CEO of Push Digital, a Charleston-based digital marketing firm that has worked with numerous national Republican campaigns and elected officials including Sens. Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio.

What happened

Donehue previously worked as a political adviser and strategist for Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC-1). On April 28, 2025, he was deposed in a Charleston County civil proceeding involving Mace's former fiancé, Patrick Bryant. The deposition transcript was subsequently reported on by multiple news outlets beginning May 21, 2025.

In his sworn testimony, Donehue stated that Mace showed him explicit images she said she had found on Bryant's phone and told him she intended to use that material as leverage to secure 100 percent ownership of two jointly held properties — one in Washington, D.C., and one in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. According to FITSNews and The Daily Beast, Donehue testified: "she sat on that information for well over a year, did not wanna contact authorities, and asked me to blackmail Patrick Bryant." He said he refused to relay those demands, and that the experience left him searching the definition of "blackmail." Donehue also described Mace as a "chronic liar who constantly plays the victim."

Mace's congressional office publicly disputed the framing in multiple ways. A spokesperson, quoted by The Daily Beast, stated the word "blackmail" originated in a leading question from the deposing attorney — not independently from Donehue — and that Donehue's own testimony confirmed details supporting Mace's account, including her expressed fear for her safety and the existence of compromising material on Bryant's devices. Mace's office also stated she had turned over evidence to federal and state authorities in 2023, before the conversation Donehue described, and characterized the deposition as "victim shaming" aimed at undermining abuse survivors. Mace did not respond directly to a separate request for comment from Just the News (May 29, 2025).

The civil proceedings are connected to broader litigation that followed Mace's February 2025 House floor speech, in which she publicly accused Bryant and others of sexual assault. Bryant and his co-accused have denied Mace's allegations. Bryant subsequently filed a civil action against Mace; the cases remain active and unadjudicated as of the date of this entry. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) opened an investigation into Bryant on December 14, 2023, according to Just the News.

No charges or civil judgments against Donehue personally arising from the deposition had been publicly reported as of the time of writing.

Sources

• FITSNews — Bombshell Deposition: Nancy Mace's Former Strategist Unloads (May 21, 2025)
• The Daily Beast — Nancy Mace Named by Former Aide in Naked Photos 'Blackmail' Plot (May 22, 2025)
• Just the News — Ex-advisor to Nancy Mace said congresswoman asked him to blackmail fiancé she accused of assault (May 29, 2025)
• Post and Courier — Under oath, former Nancy Mace strategist says SC congresswoman asked him to 'blackmail' her ex
• Wikipedia — Wesley Donehue (background)

See also

• People in the Public Record
• Litigation Overview
• Overview

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Neutral, public-record summary. Allegations are attributed to their source and remain unproven unless adjudicated. Donehue's deposition statements are attributed to his sworn testimony as reported by named outlets; Mace's denials and her office's characterizations are attributed to her congressional office. The underlying civil and criminal proceedings are ongoing and no findings of fact have been entered by any court.