An investigation into the explosive claims of sexual assault made by Rep. Nancy Mace towards her former fiancé has been lively and ongoing for greater than a yr, South Carolina state police confirmed.
The South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Division launched its probe into the congresswoman’s former beau, Patrick Byrant, on Dec. 14, 2023, on allegations of assault, harassment and voyeurism after being contacted by US Capitol Police, the company stated.
“Since that date, SLED has carried out a number of interviews, served a number of search warrants, and has a well-documented case file that can be out there for launch upon the conclusion of the case,” the company stated in an announcement to The Publish.
“This lively and ongoing investigation is advanced and has concerned a number of legal professionals. As soon as the investigation is accomplished, it is going to be despatched to a prosecutor for assessment,” SLED added.
The Palmetto State Republican, 47, accused Bryant and three enterprise companions of committing rape and different sexual crimes towards herself and a dozen different ladies and underage ladies – allegations her ex has since denied.
The congresswoman claimed she discovered a trove of greater than 10,000 movies and different photographic proof contained on the cellphone of her former husband-to-be in November 2023 – proof she didn’t current throughout her speech on Monday within the Home of Representatives.
“I by chance uncovered among the most heinous crimes towards ladies conceivable – we’re speaking about rape, nonconsensual images, nonconsensual movies of girls and underage ladies, and the premediated, calculated exploitation of girls and ladies in my district,” Mace stated.
“Right now you’ll hear in regards to the wicked males behind these gutless, evil acts. These males didn’t simply hurt their victims; they recorded their depravity as if it have been a badge of honor.”
The digital recordsdata embrace express covert photographs of feminine workers, wives of male workers and different ladies, together with upskirting images of the underage daughter of a enterprise affiliate, Mace claimed.
She advised lawmakers she needed to inform one lady that she’d unknowingly been raped after discovering a video of Bryant and one in all his enterprise associates allegedly recording one other enterprise affiliate sexually assaulting an “incapacitated” lady.
“She had no concept as a result of she was incapacitated on the time of the rape. I knew she was raped as a result of I by chance discovered the video of her being raped,” Mace stated.
“The 2 of them, the three of them enterprise companions — the 2 of them had their telephones out identical to this. Filming her as she was being raped. And she or he was utterly laid out. There was no motion. There was no life. I couldn’t even inform if this younger lady was alive.”
Mace additionally recounted the horrifying second she discovered a video of herself “undressed” and “unaware she was being filmed” on her former fiancé’s cellphone – a discovery she claims led to Bryant bodily assaulting her.
She stated she was pressured out of her residence and “into hiding” the next month, transferring in with mates and altering addresses no less than 4 instances in a single yr.
“I nonetheless have the mark Patrick Bryant made on me. Slightly than see this mark as a scar, I see this scar because the mark of a free lady; free from a monster,” Mace stated, including that she was subsequently recognized with post-traumatic stress dysfunction.
“This isn’t a narrative about bitter ex-girlfriends… or consensual intercourse tapes, there are many these. I don’t care what two consenting adults comply with do,” the congresswoman added. “That’s the definition of freedom. It is a story about predators who hunt ladies for sport.”
Mace additionally alleged that one in all Bryant’s enterprise associates “tried to intimidate” her from bringing the proof to mild – whereas slamming South Carolina Lawyer Basic Alan Wilson for intentionally stalling the investigation and failing to guard feminine victims.
“If anybody want to arrest me for standing up for ladies — listed below are my wrists. Arrest me. Take me to jail,” she threatened.
“I’m 100% responsible for turning over proof of peeping Toms, or turning over proof of rape, of turning over proof of voyeurism, of turning over proof of intercourse trafficking and who is aware of, most likely an entire heck of rather a lot an increasing number of crimes I don’t have time to get into tonight.”
Mace then stated Wilson was “not an actual man” as a result of “actual males defend ladies.”
Wilson’s workplace refuted Mace’s statements concerning the conduct and position of the legal professional common as “categorically false” and “politically motivated,” including she has not personally contacted him about her issues or spoken with him on the a number of occasions they’ve attended collectively “during the last six months.”
“Ms. Mace both doesn’t perceive or is purposefully mischaracterizing the position of the Lawyer Basic,” learn an announcement from the South Carolina AG’s workplace.
“Presently, our workplace has not acquired any studies or requests for help from any legislation enforcement or prosecution companies concerning these issues. Moreover, the Lawyer Basic and members of his workplace have had no position and no data of those allegations till her public statements.”
The AG’s workplace stated it’s as much as native legislation enforcement companies to analyze potential proof of crime.
Bryant has additionally “categorically” denied the allegations levied towards him.
“I take this matter critically and can cooperate totally with any needed authorized processes to clear my title,” Bryant stated in an announcement to the New York Occasions.
You probably have been sexually assaulted and dwell in New York, you’ll be able to name 1-800-942-6906 totally free and confidential disaster counseling. When you dwell exterior the state, you’ll be able to dial the 24/7 Nationwide Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
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