Providing for the expulsion of Representative Nancy Mace from the United States House of Representatives.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1197
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-20: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-22T15:05:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H. Res. 1197 (119th Congress, 2d Session)
Purpose
This House resolution seeks to expel Representative Nancy Mace (South Carolina) from the U.S. House of Representatives, citing a pattern of alleged ethical violations, abuse of public resources, workplace misconduct, disorderly behavior, and personal actions that undermine the House's dignity and public trust. It invokes the House's constitutional authority to punish members for "disorderly behavior."
Key Provisions
- Expulsion clause: Directly resolves that Representative Mace "be, and she hereby is, expelled" under Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution.
- Supporting "whereas" clauses: Details numerous allegations, including:
- Court restraining and gag orders related to harassment, threats, and social media posts in lawsuits against Patrick Bryant.
- Testimony alleging requests for blackmail using explicit photos and failure to report claimed sexual assaults.
- Profane outbursts at airport security, berating law enforcement.
- Claimed nepotism in college admission and refusal of military commission.
- Alleged self-staged vandalism for political gain.
- Misuse of Capitol Police for personal disputes and exaggerated injury claims leading to arrests.
- Improper use of taxpayer-funded Members' Representational Allowance (MRA; funds for official duties) for personal lodging reimbursements.
- Solicitation of campaign donations during an official Capitol interview, violating federal law and House rules.
- Unpaid state ethics fines and delayed campaign disclosures.
- Toxic workplace environment with high staff turnover and retaliation.
- Use of staff for anonymous social media operations violating ethics rules.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- None. This is not a law or amendment; it is an internal House resolution exercising its constitutional expulsion power. It does not alter statutes, rules, or precedents but applies existing House authority.
Potential Impacts
- House of Representatives: Could reduce membership (expulsion requires a two-thirds vote if advanced), affect party balance, and prompt ethics reviews.
- Citizens and constituents: South Carolina voters in Mace's district would face a vacancy, potentially triggering a special election; broader erosion of public confidence in Congress if perceived as partisan.
- Government agencies: Increased scrutiny on House Ethics Committee, Office of Congressional Ethics, and Capitol Police resource use; no direct international effects.
- Representative Mace: Ends her current term early, impacts her 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial campaign.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Representative Nancy Mace: Primary target, facing potential removal.
- House members and leadership: Must vote on resolution if it advances from Ethics Committee.
- Constituents in South Carolina's 1st District: Lose representation until replacement.
- House Ethics Committee: Received referral for review.
- Former staff, law enforcement, and litigants (e.g., Patrick Bryant, Wesley Donehue): Allegations involve their testimonies or interactions.
- Taxpayers: Concerns over misuse of public funds like MRA.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Relies on Article I, Section 5, Clause 2, granting each House power to "punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour" and expel with a two-thirds vote (only 21 expulsions in U.S. history, mostly for treason or corruption).
- Legal: Based on unadjudicated allegations, court filings, testimony, and reports—not criminal convictions—raising due process questions in a political body.
- Political: Highlights internal House accountability amid ethics complaints; could fuel partisan debates on member conduct, especially with Mace's gubernatorial bid and criticisms of her military/veteran stances. Resolution was introduced April 20, 2026, and referred to Ethics Committee.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-20: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- 2026-04-20: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Providing for the expulsion of Representative Nancy Mace from the United States House of Representatives. — issued 2026-04-20 — PDF (7 pages)