Part of: The House Ethics reimbursement investigation (2025-2026) · House Ethics Committee Investigation of Rep. Nancy Mace (OCC Review 25-5681) · The House Ethics Investigation
OCC Board votes 6-0 to refer Mace over reimbursement practices
The bipartisan Office of Congressional Conduct voted unanimously to find 'substantial reason to believe' Rep. Nancy Mace engaged in improper reimbursement practices, referring the matter to the House Ethics Committee.
"There is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Mace engaged in improper reimbursement practices."
That was the unanimous finding of the bipartisan Office of Congressional Conduct on November 18, 2025. The OCC Board voted 6-0 in the affirmative, with zero votes in the negative and zero abstentions, to refer the matter to the House Committee on Ethics for further review.
What the OCC reviewed. The OCC, the independent, bipartisan body formerly known as the Office of Congressional Ethics, opened Review No. 25-5681 covering Mace's use of her Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) for lodging reimbursements from January 2023 through May 2024. The review centered on a Washington, D.C., property Mace co-owned with her then-fiancé. The OCC examined whether her reimbursement requests to the House were consistent with the actual lodging expenses she incurred.
The unanimous referral. "Substantial reason to believe" is the OCC's referral threshold, the standard required to pass a matter to the Ethics Committee for formal review. It is not a finding of a violation and does not indicate that Mace broke any law or House rule. No finding of wrongdoing has been made. The referral was transmitted to the House Committee on Ethics in December 2025.
Mace declined to cooperate. According to the OCC report, Mace declined to be interviewed during the review. Former members of her staff also declined to cooperate. The OCC noted it was therefore unable to determine how or why Mace made the reimbursement decisions she did.
Mace's position. Through counsel William M. Sullivan Jr. of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Mace disputed the OCC's process and findings. Sullivan characterized the report as "fundamentally flawed." Mace has denied any wrongdoing.
The House Committee on Ethics acknowledged the referral and subsequently extended its review. The matter remains under active review; no violation has been found.
Sources: OCC Report and Findings, Rep. Mace (PDF) · House Ethics Committee statement (Mar. 2, 2026) · Roll Call, Mar. 2, 2026 · The Post and Courier | Ethics Investigation hub · House Ethics Investigation
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