Nancy Mace admits her Epstein files vote may have cost her Trump’s support

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace has suggested that her support for releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace has suggested that her support for releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files was the primary reason she failed to secure current President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the state’s gubernatorial race. Mace, who is running for governor of South Carolina, has had a complicated political relationship with Trump over the years, at times criticizing him and at other times strongly supporting his policies and leadership.

According to Mace, her decision to back efforts aimed at making the Epstein files public created a divide between her and Trump. She believes this issue ultimately cost her the endorsement of the current president, whose influence remains extremely powerful among Republican voters in South Carolina.

“That’s the only reason I didn’t receive the endorsement,” Mace said in an interview “I voted to release the Epstein files, and I’m completely comfortable with that decision. I’ve dedicated a great deal of time to exposing child predators, human traffickers, and sexual abusers in my state, and I will continue that work regardless of any political consequences.”

Despite the setback, Mace remains determined to continue her campaign. She emphasized that she has no plans to back down and intends to fight until the end of the race. While describing herself as a strong supporter of Trump’s policy agenda, she also stressed her independent conservative identity.

“I’m moving forward at full speed no matter what happens,” Mace said. “I’m not giving up without a fight. I still consider myself a MAGA candidate. I support the president and his policies, but I’m also an independent conservative who makes decisions based on principle.”

Trump’s endorsement of South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette during the final weeks before the Republican primary represented a significant challenge for Mace. In a state where Republican voters hold overwhelmingly conservative views, a Trump endorsement can carry substantial political weight and influence election outcomes.

The controversy surrounding the Epstein files emerged after Representative Thomas Massie joined a bipartisan effort involving both Republicans and Democrats to force a congressional vote on releasing documents connected to Epstein. Mace was among the few Republican lawmakers who supported that effort.

However, some political observers believe other factors may have contributed to her struggles. Veteran South Carolina Republican strategist Terry Sullivan argued that an incident involving Mace at an airport may have been more politically damaging than her stance on the Epstein files.

“I think the airport situation hurt her more than the Epstein issue,” Sullivan said. “She’s an effective communicator, performs well in debates, and generally aligns with conservative voters on major issues. But sometimes she creates distractions that take attention away from her strengths.”

Mace defended herself, noting that she frequently receives threats and faces security concerns while traveling. She stated that she receives more than a thousand death threats annually and pointed to several confrontations that have occurred at airports, including incidents at Charleston International Airport.

In addition to these controversies, Mace recently made headlines after accusing her former fiancé and several of his business associates of serious sexual misconduct during a speech on the House floor. Those allegations have been strongly denied, and Mace is currently representing herself in related legal proceedings.

Financially, her campaign has taken an unconventional approach. She has reportedly spent nothing on television advertising and only about $50,000 on digital ads. Representative Thomas Massie has argued that Mace, along with Representatives Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, paid a significant political price for supporting his effort to force a vote on the Epstein files.

Looking ahead, Mace has reaffirmed her commitment to term limits and stated that she does not plan to seek another congressional term. She noted that she promised voters she would serve only six years in Congress and intends to honor that commitment.

“I said I would serve six years because I believe in term limits,” Mace explained. “I made that promise, and I intend to keep it. Therefore, I will not be running for Congress again.”

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