Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has, for the most part, supported Donald Trump throughout his presidency.
The one area on which they parted ways was that of the Epstein files, on which Mace pushed back against the president to the point of supporting a discharge petition in the House, forcing their release.
Well, Mace just lost a top advisor to her gubernatorial campaign over the rift with Trump, with Austin McCubbin abandoning his role, citing his loyalty to Trump in his resignation letter.
Mace says she has personally been a victim of sexual assault, so the Epstein file release was something that was near and dear to her heart.
In supporting their disclosure, she stated, “Today is a historic day for every survivor across the country. I know the toll this trauma takes on a survivor's life and the courage it takes to come forward. The Epstein survivors' voices are not just a vessel for the justice they are seeking for themselves.”
She continued, “They are a vessel for the justice owed to the millions of other survivors who will never get this day. Most of us never get the opportunity to face our accuser, let alone see them prosecuted or put behind bars."
Mace added, "This is a symbolic day because it represents a fight not only for these survivors, but for so many of us who feel like we will never see justice."
Trump had been fighting the release of the files from the outset, but he changed his mind once he seemed to realize that he was fighting a losing battle.
In November, after months of battling and even destroying his relationship with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) in part over the matter, he changed his tune.
Trump stated, “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide.”
As noted, the damage concerning Greene was already done, with Trump pulling his endorsement of her, stating, “I understand that wonderful, Conservative people are thinking about primarying Marjorie in her District of Georgia, that they too are fed up with her and her antics and, if the right person runs, they will have my Complete and Unyielding Support.”
McCubbin has been working on behalf of Mace for some time, but he just pulled out of her gubernatorial campaign, stating, “Nancy Mace has yet again decided to turn her back on MAGA to hug the political cactus that is the Rand Paul + Thomas Massie wing of the Party. I have notified her and her team that I am resigning because of this.”
He continued, “My name has been used publicly, while going back on her word to pay me, to trade on my Team Trump status and to work on her behalf with the White House, and I am 100% breaking with her campaign out of loyalty to the President.”
The congresswoman's office responded, “Nancy Mace has stood with President Trump since Day One. Mr. McCubbin said it himself: ‘Nancy Mace will be the most pro-Trump and America First Governor in the country.'”
McCubbin was clearly trying to get Trump’s attention here, likely hoping to land a spot in the administration, but I think he went about it the wrong way. Who, other than Trump, would ever hire him, knowing that he would not necessarily have loyalty to them over anyone else? If Trump does not hire him, I would be surprised to see anyone else take him on, either.
