Sexual assault survivor Nancy Mace appears to blast victim in ‘Cornell 7’ case

Sexual assault survivor Nancy Mace appears to blast victim in ‘Cornell 7’ case Nancy Mace suggested the Cornell University Jane Doe participated in a ‘consensual gangbang’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Representative Nancy Mace appears to have suggested that the former Cornell University student who alleged in a civil lawsuit she was gang-raped at a campus fraternity was not a victim but a participant in a “consensual gangbang.” The South Carolina Republican, who has publicly described herself as a rape survivor, made the remark Thursday on social media. “IDK who needs to hear this, but a consensual gangbang is not a rape,” Mace wrote on X. Her remark appeared to be in reference to the “Cornell 7” case, which has drawn national attention to the Ivy League university and sparked protests across the country. The GOP lawmaker later responded to an X user who called her “an actual renowned expert on the topic “ who “will just end the debate with one tweet.” Mace wrote back: “I didn’t mean it like that! And I am no expert. Never have. Never would.” Mace, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of South Carolina and is leaving Congress in 2027, has previously spoken publicly about her own experiences with sexual assault. In a speech on the House floor last year, she accused her former fiancé and several other men of raping and drugging her in 2022. Addressing the men directly, she said: "You’ve booked yourself a one-way ticket to hell.” The ex-fiancé later sued Mace, alleging she had made fabricated claims. During a 2024 interview, Mace accused ABC News host George Stephanopoulos of trying to shame her as a rape victim over her support for President Donald Trump. “I’m not going to sit here on your show and be asked a question meant to shame me about another potential rape victim,” she said. “I’m not going to do that.” Last year, she tearfully rushed out from meeting with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. In a subsequent social media post, she described having a panic attack: “As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I can’t breathe.” Mace’s latest comments come amid intense national scrutiny of the Cornell case. Last month, a former student identified only as Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit alleging that seven members of the now-defunct Chi Phi fraternity drugged and raped her in October 2024. None of the men have been criminally charged. All have denied wrongdoing. The lawsuit followed local prosecutors’ initial decision not to pursue criminal charges. Defending his decision, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said the police statement his office reviewed did not describe forced sexual activity. “She admits to taking drugs and alcohol voluntarily and with knowledge,” Van Houten said. “She does not allege that she was forced to engage in any acts.” His office reopened the investigation last month. Soon after, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James to take over the case, which James described as an “active criminal investigation.” Hochul criticized the handling of the allegations by local authorities and other institutions. “This young woman had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable. And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her,” she said. Cornell launched its own months-long investigation after Jane Doe spoke to police in November 2024. The process resulted in suspensions and expulsions for students involved in the case. The fraternity was also closed. “Any suggestion that the University did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,” the university said in a statement last week. “A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault.” The case has sparked protests at Cornell and nationwide with demonstrators demanding greater accountability for how institutions handle sexual assault. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments