Rep. Nancy Mace condemned the normalization of political threats in a passionate courtroom statement following the arrest of a 19-year-old accused of threatening her life online.
According to Breitbart, South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace gave a powerful victim impact statement Friday in Greenville after police arrested Samuel Theodore Cain, also known as Roxie Wolfe, for issuing a credible death threat against the congresswoman.
Authorities took Cain into custody on Thursday for posting what officials described as a specific and alarming statement on the internet. The threat stated an intention to assassinate Mace with a firearm. A judge reviewed the charges the next day, ultimately denying bail to Cain and ordering no communication between Cain and Mace.
During Friday’s court session, Mace emotionally described the urgent security measures she had to implement once the threat came to light. She detailed how she changed her routine, adjusted her surroundings, and placed her staff and family under added protection. She also clarified that police immediately began patrolling both her offices and home for added security.
In her statement before the court, Mace expressed concern not only for her safety but for the well-being of her colleagues. She asserted that public officials accept scrutiny, but not intimidation. Mace warned that persistent tolerance of threats towards government representatives may undermine the integrity of democratic institutions.
Mace Links Threat To Broader Cultural Concerns
Mace further expanded on what she characterized as a troubling cultural shift. She referred to past incidents and concluded that death threats against her were increasingly coming from “radicalized” groups, singling out transgender activists in particular. In her remarks, she claimed that activists espousing extreme ideologies are often hostile toward women and lawmakers who advocate for certain legislative positions.
The congresswoman did not hold back in addressing the topic. She said individuals she described as “men who cross-dress as women” were mentally unstable and violent when challenged. She directly linked those views to her legislative efforts concerning women’s rights and her stand on restricting access to single-sex spaces based on biological sex.
After leaving the courtroom, Mace took to social media to comment further. She posted an image of Cain and mocked his appearance, claiming he was “obviously unwell.” Her post included a play on words, echoing Cain’s original phrasing in the online threat, stating, “Roxie was ‘dead*ss’ arrested.”
Threat Prompts Security and Emotional Response
The incident took a personal toll, according to Mace’s account. She said the threat left her feeling exposed and endangered. Highlighting the emotional effect on her family, she emphasized that seeing her children face danger from an individual she had never met was “not acceptable.” Despite the nature of the threat, Mace responded with a gesture of forgiveness during the hearing. She reportedly approached Cain’s father, who apologized for his son’s actions. Mace accepted the apology and expressed sorrow for what the family was going through, noting that she did not hold the father responsible.
The presiding judge called the defendant a “credible threat” and ruled that bail should not be granted. The one condition imposed was a restriction on contacting Mace. The ruling reflected the severity with which the court viewed the online threat, reinforcing Mace’s account of the distress the situation caused her and those around her.
Incident Renews Debate Around Political Violence
Mace also referred to a prior experience while speaking in court, alleging that she had been physically assaulted by a transgender activist at the Capitol, an incident that occurred in December during her time there. The altercation reportedly led to her wearing a wrist brace. She said that President Donald Trump had reached out to check on her well-being following that incident. As a vocal proponent of legislation to limit who may enter women-only spaces, Mace has found herself at the center of increasingly heated political discourse. She attributed rising threats and harassment to backlash from what she described as fringe elements of the political spectrum who oppose her stance on gender-specific legislation.
In concluding her remarks both online and in-person, Mace emphasized her belief that only spiritual transformation could lead to genuine rehabilitation for Cain. She declared her hope that he would “find God” as he contends with the repercussions of the criminal case.
Cain’s Legal Future Remains Uncertain
No date has been publicized for Cain’s next court appearance, and the investigation appears to remain active. The threat has again drawn attention to the safety of elected officials and the wider conversation about harmful rhetoric directed toward public figures. The ruling has sparked discussion about the limitations of online speech and the obligations of the justice system in addressing threats directed at lawmakers. With the bond denied, Cain remains in custody as the legal process continues to unfold.
Meanwhile, Mace said she continues to work with law enforcement to ensure her offices and family remain secure. She reaffirmed that despite the threats, she remains committed to her work and hopes other elected officials will feel safe to fulfill their duties without fear.
