In a dramatic moment on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina shocked colleagues by displaying nude photos of herself during a House Oversight Committee hearing—photos she says were secretly taken without her consent. The bold move was part of a fiery push to protect Americans, particularly women, from the growing threat of hidden cameras and digital voyeurism.
“This is about the fundamental right to privacy,” Mace declared in her opening statement, slamming the silent epidemic of surveillance devices that invade homes, hotel rooms, and dressing spaces across the country. “Liberty begins with the right to close a door. A hidden camera kicks that door off its hinges.”
Mace’s display was more than symbolic. She said the explicit images were taken by her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant, as part of a broader pattern of sexual exploitation that included hidden recordings and drugged victims. Mace has accused Bryant and three other men of operating a ring that secretly filmed women, including minors, in compromising situations.
“These weren’t just violations—they were crimes,” Mace said. “I am living proof that even as a Member of Congress, I found myself face-to-face with the darkest corners of humanity.”
She introduced two bills in response: the Stop VOYEURS Act and the Sue VOYEURS Act, legislation that would criminalize the use of secret surveillance devices for voyeuristic purposes and empower victims to seek damages.
The hearing’s emotional weight was matched by Mace’s willingness to confront the reality of her ordeal head-on. She said her aim was to force Washington to take privacy rights seriously and to hold predators accountable, no matter how powerful or connected they are.
Mace’s decision to show the photos came amid frustration with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who she says has failed to act on evidence and hasn’t prosecuted a single case related to the secret recordings. She has called out law enforcement’s inaction since February and insists Bryant remains under active investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Bryant has denied all allegations, telling local media, “I categorically deny the false and outrageous claims made by Nancy Mace. I have never harmed any woman.”
But Mace insists the evidence speaks for itself—and that her case is only the tip of the iceberg. She believes thousands of women nationwide have suffered similar violations without justice.
“We are talking about rape, nonconsensual photos, nonconsensual videos of women and underage girls, and the premeditated, calculated exploitation of women and girls in my district,” she said earlier this year.
Her supporters say Mace’s courage is drawing needed attention to a largely ignored crisis, and her bills could finally close legal loopholes that predators exploit. Critics, however, question the appropriateness of displaying the photos publicly, even with warnings and context.
Still, the moment left few in the room unmoved. As the hearing adjourned, one thing was clear: Mace wasn’t just making a political point—she was putting a deeply personal violation on the record to demand change.
Her legislation now heads to committee for review. Whether or not it passes, her message is ringing loudly: Americans deserve the right to privacy—and women, especially, deserve to be safe from the lens of hidden predators.
