In a raw display of vulnerability on Capitol Hill, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) bolted from a closed-door session with Jeffrey Epstein's victims, shaken by what she called a full-blown panic attack, as Breitbart reports.

The House Oversight Committee's two-hour gathering heard from six accusers as part of a deeper look into how federal authorities managed the Epstein scandal, with Mace's emotional departure underscoring the testimonies' heavy toll amid mounting bipartisan demands to open sealed government records.

The meeting unfolded with key figures like Oversight chair James Comer and House Speaker Mike Johnson present, focusing on the government's role in the case.

Mace makes emotional departure

Video captured Mace wiping away tears while hurrying past reporters, opting not to field any questions.

As someone who has openly shared her past as a sexual assault survivor, Mace found the victims' accounts overwhelming.

“As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full-blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I can’t breathe,” Mace posted, highlighting the raw intensity of reliving trauma.

Personal pain amid public duty

“I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS,” she continued. Such candor reminds us that lawmakers are human too, and dismissing their reactions as distractions misses the point of empathy in justice reform.

House Speaker Mike Johnson described the atmosphere as both heartbreaking and infuriating, noting the long delay in delivering justice.

“There was outrage. It was both -- I would describe it as heartbreaking and infuriating. That justice has been delayed so long,” Johnson said. In a world quick to prioritize progressive narratives over accountability, his words cut through the noise, urging real action over endless probes.

Calls grow for full file release

The session tied into broader efforts to scrutinize federal handling of Epstein's activities, with pressure building to unseal related files.

Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have initiated a discharge petition aimed at forcing a House vote to compel the Justice Department to disclose those documents.

The petition needs 218 signatures to advance, representing a rare cross-aisle push against bureaucratic stonewalling.

Lawmakers unite on disclosure push

Among the signers are Reps. Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, showing conservative voices leading on transparency.

Massie praised supporters for backing Epstein's trafficking survivors through the petition to release the files. “For supporting the survivors of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring by signing the discharge petition today to release the Epstein files,” Massie stated -- a polite nudge that true support means deeds, not just words, especially when some on the left drag their feet on protective measures.

On Sunday, Khanna went on NBC's Meet the Press to tease a Sept. 3 press event, where ten victims were slated to speak, including some for the first time publicly.

Focus on protecting the vulnerable

Mace, in her ongoing bid for South Carolina governor, has centered her platform on safeguarding women and children.

Earlier this year, she gave a floor speech decrying serious offenses against her and others, tying in details about her ex-fiancé.

On Wednesday, facing backlash that her response overshadowed the victims, Mace fired back at detractors.

Standing firm against critics

“Survivors survive and live to make a difference, whether you like it or not. I’m unmoved by your pathetic antics to hurt women and kids,” she retorted. This zinger exposes how critics often weaponize empathy to silence conservative women, ignoring the shared fight for justice.

“Still waiting for you and other Dems to support ANY of the legislation I’ve drafted to protect women and children. So until then, honey… Sit. Back. Down,” Mace added. Her pointed call-out highlights a frustrating double standard, where bipartisan talk on issues like Epstein's files rarely translates to unified action on broader protections, leaving survivors in the lurch.