Eyewitness to Nancy Mace’s Alleged Assault Claims She Made It Up: ‘It Was a Normal Handshake’
Joe Khalil, NewsNation
One eyewitness to an Illinois man’s alleged assault of Rep. Nancy Mace(R-SC) at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday insists that the only physical contact between the two was a handshake.
Mace shared the news on social media that she was “physically accosted” by what she deemed to be a “pro-tr*ns” man, ostensibly protesting Mace’s controversial and what some have alleged are transphobic comments.
Mace posted on X:
She went on to provide her version of the story:
Mace was seen wearing her arm in a sling in public hallways Wednesday morning (image above via NewsNation’s Joe Khalil), but an eyewitness claims the alleged assault was actually just a handshake that Mace walked away from unharmed.
Writing for The Imprint, John Kelly reports:
A former foster youth and award-winning advocate for children was arrested at the U.S. Capitol tonight — a bizarre twist in an otherwise celebratory day of events — after South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace accused him of assault.
The incident took place outside a House of Representatives office building following an event honoring the anniversary of a landmark child welfare law where Mace, a firebrand Republican, had given a speech. Three witnesses at the scene told The Imprint their accused colleague James McIntyre had done nothing more than shake the congress member’s hand at the House reception, and asked her to protect the rights of transgender people.
….
“I want to express deep disappointment in the fact that Congresswoman Nancy Mace came to a national foster youth event, told participating youth that it was a safe space — and literally had one of them arrested by Capital police for simply shaking her hand and asking about trans rights,” said Lisa Dickson, a veteran advocate for foster youth from Ohio, in a Facebook post.
According to Kelly’s report, Elliot Hinkle, an LGBTQ advocate present at the event, later claimed that an aide of Mace’s “returned to the reception and asked McIntyre his name and whether he would repeat what he had told the legislator. Two other people who witnessed the interaction confirmed that description of the brief episode.” McIntyre was later brought back to the Rayburn Building by Capitol Police after leaving the event.
According to The Imprint, Hinkle said McIntyre’s subsequent arrest “sends a chilling effect of, you’re not actually safe to go to the Capitol Hill and share an opinion that is true for you, that isn’t violent — because right now if you do, a congressperson might say that they were physically assaulted and call the police on you. So how would a young person in care feel safe?”
The USCP confirmed an arrest of a person accused of assaulting a U.S. Representative via a statement issued Tuesday night:
Last night, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) arrested a person who is accused of assaulting a U.S. Representative.
Just before 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 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 (18 USC 111).
The Rayburn House Office Building was open to the public at the time of the incident. McIntyre went through security screening prior to entering the Congressional buildings.
United States Capitol Police
Public Information Office
