Nancy Mace Hits Back At Claims She Used Alcohol And Weed ‘Excessively’ In Whirlwind Posting Spree

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) refuted claims that she drank alcohol and used marijuana “excessively” through a series of social media posts on Tuesday, saying she can’t drink too much due to a “genetic affliction” — only to be countered by one of her former staffers.

A New York Magazine profile published Monday featured several former Mace employees who said the politician sent staffers on late-night trips to the liquor store during her first term in Congress. In response, the South Carolina representative wrote in an X post that she is physically incapable of drinking in excess.

“[The] Press really should FACT CHECK before running lies,” she wrote Tuesday alongside a photo of her drinking from a mug with the words “Not Tequila” written on it. “I have a lifelong genetic affliction which prevents me from consuming much alcohol. It’s called HEMOCHROMATOSIS. Look it up.”

Hemochromatosis is a disorder in which the body can build up too much iron in the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, pituitary gland and joints, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a video clip posted Tuesday on X, Mace accused the “fake news” of “spreading the lies” that she abuses alcohol. She also added that she’s not “supposed” to drink alcohol but does so “socially, occasionally,” noting that it “would cause all sorts of disease on my organs, cancer, etc. [and] shorten my lifespan.”

Natalie Johnson, Mace’s former communications director, fired back at Mace’s claims, writing Tuesday on X, “Nancy Mace claiming she doesn’t drink alcohol might be the funniest, most brazen lie she’s told to date.”

She added, “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, who was reportedly Mace’s director of communications from January 2021 to August 2021, also re-shared multiple photos of Mace appearing to hold alcoholic beverages. Johnson captioned the post “Cheers!”

Johnson also shared one of Mace’s X posts from Feb. 18, 2025, in which the representative wrote, “It’s ‘National Drink Wine Day!’ Cheers,” alongside a photo of herself smiling and holding what appeared to be a glass of red wine.

Mace’s office didn’t immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

The accusations come after the House Ethics Committee announced in January that it is investigating allegations against Mace, who is currently running for governor of South Carolina. The committee said it will announce its “course of action” on the matter on or before March 2.