Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) went on air Tuesday to vehemently deny one of the most explosive allegations about her behind-the-scenes behavior published in New York Magazine this week — but one of her former staffers hit back with a blistering response.
Mace, who has garnered attention over the past few years for everything from an extremely loud anti-LGBTQ campaign to allegations her former fiancé raped her and threats to show videos of her naked body in a House committee chamber to prove it, is currently running for governor of South Carolina in a crowded contest to replace outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster.
The article, which spoke with several people who have worked under her and fear her mental health is deteriorating, alleged among many other things that Mace has a severe drinking and cannabis problem, and ordered her congressional staffers to make liquor runs for her in violation of House rules.
Mace took issue with that particular allegation on the right-wing Newsmax 2 network, not only denying it but implying she barely drinks at all.
"Absolutely not," Mace said in response to questions about whether she had her staff deliver her liquor at night. "I go to bed very early. I'm almost 50. I'm in bed by 9. No one has been over to my house after midnight ... Like, these things are provably false if you looked at my security system."
She added, "I'm not allowed to drink or consume much in the way of alcohol" because she's had a lifelong diagnosis of hemochromatosis, or excessive blood iron, and drinking under that condition will "destroy your organs and you'll die at an early age, and I love life."
Natalie Johnson, a former staffer for Mace, cried foul on these claims, even dropping an eyebrow-raising detail to refute Mace's claim.
"Nancy Mace claiming she doesn’t drink alcohol might be the funniest, most brazen lie she’s told to date," said Johnson. "The woman drank so much she’d have interns or junior staff run to Congressional Liquor during the work day so she could imbibe during telephone town halls."