Statement: Federal prosecutors drop charges against Chicago man Rep. Nancy Mace falsely accused of assault (Chicago, IL) – (Wednesday, April 2, 2025) – Federal prosecutors dropped their case against Chicago-based foster care advocate James McIntyre on Tuesday, following South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s false assault allegations against him in December. U.S. Capitol Police arrested and charged McIntyre with a misdemeanor after he shook Mace’s hand in December and asked her to support trans children in foster care at a public reception at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. McIntyre had pleaded not guilty.
Following is a statement from McIntyre in response to the federal prosecutors’ withdrawal of the case:
“I am pleased but not surprised that these baseless charges have been dropped. This experience has been traumatic, but the outpouring of support from my community, colleagues, and friends has meant everything.
“By falsely accusing me of a violent crime and having me jailed, Congresswoman Mace demonstrated her desire to criminalize anyone who advocates for the needs of our trans youth. Her actions are fundamentally connected to the broader effort by the Trump administration to criminalize protected speech and create an environment of fear among advocates. We will never stop working to protect vulnerable young people, no matter who is in power.”
Statement: Federal prosecutors drop charges against Chicago man Rep. Nancy Mace falsely accused of assault
