An Illinois man, James McIntyre, 33, has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an encounter with Representative Nancy Mace in the Rayburn House Office Building. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when McIntyre allegedly shook Mace’s hand in an “exaggerated, aggressive” manner, causing her pain that led her to wear a wrist brace and ice her arm.
Mace, a South Carolina Republican, recounted on social media that during the handshake, McIntyre expressed, “Trans youth serve advocacy.” Despite this, the Rayburn building was open and McIntyre had passed through a security screening before the incident.
Following the incident, Mace reported that although she felt pain, she would be okay as soon as the soreness subsided. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), she criticized media coverage of the incident, claiming that it was being utilized to promote a misogynistic agenda from the political left. Mace remarked, “Maybe when the Left said ‘believe all women,’ they really meant men who claim to be women.” After the event, President-elect Donald Trump personally reached out to Mace to check on her well-being.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the assault, asserting that no member of Congress should be attacked because of their political beliefs, labeling the incident as “very troubling.”
This confrontation occurred shortly after Mace proposed legislation that would restrict transgender women from using women’s facilities in Congress, a move that ignited a significant debate, especially as the House was preparing to welcome its first openly transgender member, Rep.-elect Sarah McBride from Delaware.
Mace, who declined medical assistance at the scene, took to social media to share images of her arm brace following the altercation. After an arraignment in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, a magistrate judge ordered McIntyre’s release. Efforts to contact his attorney have not yet succeeded.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding political discourse, particularly issues of gender and transgender rights within the current societal framework. As Congress navigates these complex issues, it is crucial for dialogue to remain respectful and constructive, continuing to pave the way for understanding and cooperation despite differing views.