Congress convened a closed-door session with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein on Tuesday, during which Rep. Nancy Mace was observed departing early, visibly distressed and tearful. The congresswoman did not respond to media inquiries as she left the building, sparking widespread curiosity about the nature of the discussions. A video of her exit circulated online, prompting questions about what could have prompted such a reaction.
Mace later addressed the incident on her X account, revealing she experienced a panic attack during the meeting due to her own history of sexual assault. “Yes, I left the Oversight briefing with Epstein victims early,” she wrote. “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.” She emphasized the resilience of survivors, stating, “I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us.”
The House Oversight Committee continued its investigation into federal handling of the Epstein case, with multiple accusers sharing testimonies. Details of their accounts remain undisclosed. Democrats had previously advocated for a hearing, citing unrepresented firsthand experiences in Justice Department records. The committee has subpoenaed documents, which the department began releasing last month.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) highlighted the importance of transparency, stating, “It’s for us to hear from them, to express our deep sympathy for what they’ve been made to endure and ensure that we have been and always will be for maximum transparency, for justice to be brought for all those engaged in these evils.”