A man who allegedly physically assaulted Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., on the Capitol grounds in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of misdemeanor assault.
James McIntyre, 33, of Illinois, was charged with assaulting a government official Tuesday after allegedly accosting Mace.
As outlined in a police affidavit, two individuals informed U.S. Capitol Police that a man approximately 40 years old had approached Mace, referred to as the victim in the document. The man had supposedly intended to shake Mace’s hand, but upon doing so, he grabbed her hand with both of his hands and proceeded to forcefully shake her arm up and down in a vigorous manner.
According to the authorities, the witnesses were able to provide the man’s identity and a photo to the U.S. Capitol Police after locating an online account detailing the incident. Subsequently, the man was identified as James McIntyre, a 33-year-old individual from Illinois, by these witnesses.
In another post, she shared a picture of her with her arm in a sling.
Mace’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for an update on the representative’s condition Wednesday.
A magistrate judge ordered McIntyre’s release after an arraignment in Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Mace has been vocal about her opposition to transgender individuals using bathrooms not assigned to their biological gender.
She led the charge against allowing Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, a Democrat from Delaware, to use the women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill. McBride is a biological man who identifies and presents as a woman.
Mace said last month she was receiving death threats, adding she was being “unfairly targeted.”
Mace also drafted resolution H.R. 1579, which would prohibit members, officers and employees of the House from using facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
