Congresswoman Nancy Mace Refutes Claims of Excessive Substance Use, Cites Genetic Condition
Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina has publicly denied allegations that she consumed alcohol and marijuana "excessively," asserting through social media posts on Tuesday that a genetic disorder prevents her from drinking heavily. The controversy emerged following a New York Magazine profile published Monday, which featured accounts from several former Mace employees alleging the politician sent staffers on late-night liquor store runs during her first congressional term.
Mace's Defense: Genetic Affliction Prevents Excessive Drinking
In response to the published allegations, Representative Mace took to X to challenge the reporting, writing "[The] Press really should FACT CHECK before running lies." She accompanied her post with a photograph of herself drinking from a mug labeled "Not Tequila" and provided a medical explanation for her claims.
"I have a lifelong genetic affliction which prevents me from consuming much alcohol," Mace stated. "It's called HEMOCHROMATOSIS. Look it up."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hemochromatosis is a disorder characterized by excessive iron accumulation in various organs including the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, and joints. In a subsequent video shared on X, Mace accused "fake news" outlets of "spreading the lies" about alcohol abuse and clarified her actual drinking habits.
"I'm not supposed to drink alcohol but do so socially, occasionally," Mace explained, noting that excessive consumption "would cause all sorts of disease on my organs, cancer, etc. [and] shorten my lifespan."
Former Staffer Counters with Specific Allegations
Natalie Johnson, who served as Mace's communications director from January to August 2021, directly challenged the congresswoman's claims in her own social media posts. Johnson wrote on X that "Nancy Mace claiming she doesn't drink alcohol might be the funniest, most brazen lie she's told to date."
The former staffer provided specific details contradicting Mace's assertions, stating: "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."
Johnson supplemented her claims by resharing multiple photographs appearing to show Mace holding alcoholic beverages, captioned simply "Cheers!" She also highlighted one of Mace's previous social media posts from February 18, 2025, in which the representative celebrated "National Drink Wine Day" with a photo of herself smiling while holding what appeared to be a glass of red wine.
Broader Political Context and Investigation
These allegations surface amid ongoing political scrutiny for Representative Mace, who is currently campaigning for governor of South Carolina. The House Ethics Committee announced in January that it is investigating unspecified allegations against Mace and stated it would determine its "course of action" on the matter by March 2.
Mace's office has not responded to media requests for comment regarding the specific claims made by her former staffer. The conflicting accounts between the sitting congresswoman and her former employee highlight the challenges of verifying personal conduct allegations in political contexts, particularly when medical conditions are invoked as explanatory factors.
The situation raises questions about how politicians address personal allegations while maintaining public trust, especially during election campaigns. As both sides present contradictory evidence through social media platforms, the public is left to weigh medical explanations against specific behavioral accounts from former insiders.
