The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Rep. Nancy Mace’s use of a reimbursement program for lodging and other expenses for lawmakers working in Washington, according to a committee member familiar with the preliminary investigation.
The complaint has prompted lawmakers to investigate whether Mace, a South Carolina Republican, overcharged the program by thousands of dollars for expenses related to his Washington townhouse. The full committee plans to review the details of the complaint in the coming days, according to a lawmaker familiar with the preliminary investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The committee has not yet voted to authorize the investigation.
A change to House rules that took effect last year allows lawmakers to be reimbursed up to $34,000 a year for lodging and meals while on official business in Washington. Lawmakers don’t have to submit receipts to be reimbursed, but are strongly encouraged to keep them for their records.
According to the House Administration Committee’s latest report, Mace will be reimbursed more than $23,000 in lodging expenses in 2023. That amount included insurance, taxes and other monthly costs associated with the townhouse, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. Lawmakers who own homes in the Washington area, like Mace, cannot seek repayment of mortgage payments.
Under the program, lawmakers can only seek reimbursement for their share of housing costs incurred while in Washington, but because Mace and his ex-fiance are part owners of the home, they are not allowed to seek full reimbursement for expenses related to the joint residence, according to the deed to the home and a person familiar with Mace’s personal spending.
The inconsistencies in Mace’s filing were first reported by The Washington Post, which noted that Mace was one of the lawmakers who received payouts near the program’s highest totals.
Mace’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
The further scrutiny of Mace’s spending report comes amid tensions between the South Carolina Republican and several former staffers who recently resigned. Daniel Hanlon, who served as Mace’s chief of staff until December, launched a primary campaign to oust his former boss. He dropped out of the race in March.
Mace is now facing off against Katherine Templeton, a former gubernatorial candidate who worked for Gov. Nikki Haley. Templeton also has the backing of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has worked to oust critics of the House since he was ousted from the leadership by eight Republicans, including Mace, by backing opponents in primaries. Tuesday’s primary will be the first test of McCarthy’s efforts.
Majority Committee PAC, a fundraising group controlled by McCarthy, donated $10,000 to Templeton’s campaign in April, and a number of groups with close ties to the former speaker have also donated to the effort to oust Mace.
Mr. Mace did not appear to address the reports of fraud during weekend stops in Hilton Head and Beaufort, instead speaking to voters about economic issues and border security in his final primary outings and highlighting his support for former President Donald J. Trump, who endorsed him in March, calling him a “strong conservative voice.”
Annie Krabby Contributed report.
