Representative Nancy Mace appears to have been double-dipping in her Washington, D.C., housing scam.
The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the South Carolina Republican’s use of a congressional reimbursement program after former staffers’ accused Mace of “secretly fleecing taxpayers” to the tune of $12,000.
Mace had, on several occasions, requested reimbursements of more than $3,000 at a time to cover costs associated with her $1.6 million townhouse—nearly double what her team had calculated she was eligible for.
But all the while, that property was simultaneously being leased out as a short term rental on VRBO, an online vacation rental marketplace, according to pictures obtained by the Daily Mail.
The listing describes the large, red brick home as having three bedrooms (one king, one queen, and one room with two twin beds), and being good for events with 10-24 guests, noting that it is “perfectly situated a block from the Capitol. Perfect for short events where proximity to the capitol is ideal.” Pictures of the entry depict the house with two flags hanging to the sides of the front door: an American flag and the flag of South Carolina. The ad also lists the property owner as “Ruth M.” Ruth is Mace’s middle name.
“Representative Mace has violated House Ethics Rules by repeatedly seeking reimbursement for lodging in excess of the actual monthly expense of maintaining her co-owned townhouse in Washington, D.C., resulting in a misuse of taxpayer funds for purposes unrelated to her official duties,” read an ethics complaint filed against the congresswoman last week.
Mace’s requests plainly violated two key rules of a congressional reimbursement program, according to the complaint: lawmakers cannot be repaid for interest or principal on their mortgage payments, and they cannot ask to be repaid for more than their actual expenses.
Mace has repeatedly blamed her staff for her inaccurate financial reports—but that’s just one jagged element of working for the South Carolinian, whom former employees have described as fostering a “toxic” work environment. By February, every member of Mace’s staff had turned over since November 1, 2023, including deputy chief of staff Richard Chalkey, her legislative director Randal Meyer, communications director Will Hampson, a financial adviser, a staff assistant, two legislative assistants, and her military legislative assistant. In fact, her former chief of staff is running against her in the South Carolina Republican primary.
