Nancy Mace says she has records from congressional sexual misconduct ‘slush fund’
Nancy Mace Says She Has Records from Congressional ‘Slush Fund’
Nancy Mace says she has records – South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace has revealed that she possesses records from a congressional sexual misconduct slush fund, alleging that these documents expose the financial impact of confidential settlements. The records, which Mace claims were obtained through a subpoena, detail payments made to former legislators and their offices for claims of harassment and misconduct, with some cases totaling over $338,000 since 2007. However, the House Oversight Committee was informed that several key records had been discarded, raising concerns about transparency. Mace recently disclosed the names of eight past members of Congress and one retired office, sparking renewed scrutiny of the fund’s role in handling such cases.
Documents Reveal Financial Backing for Misconduct Claims
Nancy Mace says she has records that trace the use of a dedicated fund for settlements tied to sexual misconduct and harassment in the legislative branch. These documents, spanning from 2007 to 2017, were presented during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on April 29, 2026, and include information about Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., and his interactions with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Earlier, Mace shared a photo of a binder with over 1,000 pages of records from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR), highlighting the prevalence of such payments across decades.
The records also detail how the Section 415 slush fund under the Congressional Accountability Act has been used to resolve complaints, with settlements ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Among those implicated are former Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., and Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., who received $50,000 and $27,111.75 in settlements, respectively. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., who passed away in 2022, was linked to a $8,000 payment for a consensual relationship involving her staff. These cases underscore the complexity of the financial settlements and the potential for incomplete documentation.
OCWR’s Role and Record-Keeping Controversies
According to a letter from John N. Ohlweiler, the general counsel of the OCWR, the agency provided records for nine cases to Mace and the House Oversight Committee as part of a preliminary release. The letter mentions 349 awards or settlements approved between 1996 and 2018, with 80 of these linked to offices of House members. Nancy Mace says she has records that suggest some files were destroyed, possibly to conceal details of past allegations. This discrepancy has fueled debates about the accountability of the legislative branch in addressing misconduct.
“The OCWR approved 349 awards, including 80 settlements by House member offices, which raises questions about the completeness of the data,” Ohlweiler stated in the letter. “Some records may have been removed, but the core findings remain consistent.”
While the OCWR’s documentation provides insight into past cases, it also highlights challenges in tracking the full extent of financial settlements. The agency noted that multiple complaints from the same individual against a single office could influence the total amount paid, complicating efforts to assess the fund’s overall impact. Nancy Mace says she has records that demonstrate how these settlements have affected former legislators, including those who resigned or left office amid allegations.
Historical Cases and Ongoing Investigations
The records Mace has uncovered reveal a pattern of settlements dating back years, involving both Democrats and Republicans. For instance, former Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., faced a $15,000 payment for a consensual relationship with a member of his staff, which led to accusations of mistreatment. Similarly, Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., was associated with three cases totaling $115,000, though his attorney claimed he was unaware of the payments. These cases, which Nancy Mace says she has records to support, illustrate how misconduct allegations have been resolved discreetly over time.
Among the notable cases in the documents is that of former Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, who resigned in 2018 and later died. Nancy Mace says she has records showing a $84,000 payment from a 2014 complaint by a former aide, who alleged sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation. The inclusion of these cases in the slush fund records further emphasizes the ongoing nature of investigations into congressional misconduct and the financial mechanisms behind them.