A tense moment unfolded in Washington on Tuesday when Rep. Nancy Mace walked out of a closed-door House Oversight Committee briefing with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. The South Carolina Republican appeared visibly emotional, wiping away tears as she hurried past reporters without taking questions.
Mace Says She Had a Panic Attack
Minutes later, Mace opened up on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that she had experienced a “full blown panic attack” during the testimonies. “Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I can’t breathe,” she wrote, explaining that the survivors’ stories triggered her own trauma.
“As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories,” Mace added. “I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS.”
Her candid post drew both sympathy and scrutiny online. While many praised her honesty and vulnerability, others questioned the optics of leaving the meeting early.
Oversight Committee’s Epstein Probe Continues
The briefing was part of the committee’s investigation into how federal agencies handled Epstein’s case and whether crucial information was withheld from the public. Lawmakers have subpoenaed the Department of Justice after earlier disclosures were criticized as lacking substance.
According to Democrats on the panel, less than 3% of the documents turned over so far contain new information. Speaker Mike Johnson defended the decision to hear directly from survivors, saying, “It’s for us to hear from them, to express our deep sympathy for what they’ve been made to endure and to ensure maximum transparency.”
Push for Greater Transparency
Democrats have demanded that survivors be given a public platform, not just private briefings, arguing that their voices must not be silenced by redactions and bureaucratic hurdles.
Survivors and advocacy groups echoed that call, stressing that a full accounting of Epstein’s crimes—and possible failures by federal authorities—is the only way to rebuild public trust.
The so-called “Epstein files,” partially released last month, included over 33,000 image-based records, a format that critics say makes it nearly impossible to analyze properly. Both Republicans and Democrats are pressing the DOJ for clearer, more accessible disclosures as pressure mounts for answers.
