Brian Musgrave’s civil lawsuit alleges that Rep. Nancy Mace and her staff “destroyed the lives of Brian Musgrave and his family” through a series of defamatory actions. The suit, filed by South Carolina attorneys Eric Bland, Ronnie Richter, and Scott Mongillo, acknowledges that lawmakers are traditionally protected by the Constitution’s “Speech or Debate” clause, which allows them to speak freely within the legislative chamber.
However, the 37-page complaint contends that Mace’s conduct extended far beyond this protected forum. It claims she defamed and libeled Musgrave by labeling him a sexual predator both before and after her speech on the House floor. The allegations were made across multiple platforms, including her floor address, social media posts, and a poster displayed outside her congressional office. The poster featured photos and names of Musgrave and three other individuals under the word “predators.”
In new court filings, government attorneys representing Mace argue that the central issue is not whether her actions were wrong, but whether they fall within the general scope of her duties as an elected official. They assert that courts have previously ruled public statements by members of Congress on matters of public interest are considered part of their official responsibilities.
Eric Bland, one of Musgrave’s attorneys, criticized the government’s argument. “That’s what they waited all four months to come up with?” he remarked to The Post and Courier, stating the case raises a question that should concern all Americans.
“What happens if a politician sets their sights on you? How much can they wreck your lives?” Bland asked. “Obviously they can wreck it a lot by what they say on the House floor, and she can do that. But are we just going to let them then go off the House floor, drive their car back to South Carolina and start tweeting up a storm to wreck your life, too? And then just say that’s part of the legislative purpose of being a House member? It’s ridiculous. That is not what our framers intended.”
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