WASHINGTON — A person is facing charges, accused of assaulting a Congresswoman on Capitol grounds Tuesday evening.
According to the United States Capitol Police (USCP), 33-year-old James McIntyre, from Illinois, assaulted a member of Congress in the Rayburn House Office Building. USCP says McIntyre went through a security screening before entering the Congressional buildings. McIntyre faces a charge of "Assaulting a Government Official."
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, hours later saying she was the victim and will need a new brace for her wrist and ice for her arm but should heal just fine. Mace claimed the attack was rooted in her position on trans rights, which she opposes and posts about frequently on social media.
"I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women," Mace said on Instagram.
According to court documents obtained by WUSA9, McIntyre approached Mace as she was leaving an event. Mace held out her hand to greet the man with a handshake, that is when McIntyre allegedly grabbed her hand, clasping it between his two palms and began to "aggressively and in an exaggerated manner shake her arm up and down in a handshaking motion."
Mace told police she tried to pull her hand away but McIntyre held it in place. She then added that McIntyre said "trans youth deserve advocacy."
Mace said nothing in reply, telling police she felt intimidated and unable to pull away.
After Delaware's Sarah McBride became the first transgender person to be elected to Congress, Mace introduced a resolution to restrict McBride's access to women's restrooms in the Capitol and House Office Buildings. Mace said the bill was aimed specifically at McBride, who was elected to the House last month.
McBride called the effort a way to “distract from the real issues facing this country.”
“I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families," the incoming member said. “Like all members, I will follow the rules outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them.”