Federal prosecutors have refused to pursue accusations against James McIntyre, who was accused of injuring Rep. Nancy Mace (Rs.C.) by shaking her hands vigorously at a December reception to honor her foster parents.
McIntyre, 33, is a former foster care youth who co-founded the Illinois chapter of Foster Care alumni. He was named “Public Citizen of the Year” by the Illinois branch of the National Association of Social Workers in 2019 for his advocacy on behalf of young people in the foster care system.
Mace, one of the six co-chairs of Foster Youth’s Congressional Caucus, gave a speech praised Foster Care Youth supporters at a December 10 reception at the Rayburn House Office Building.
The reception marked the 25th anniversary of the passage of a law that expanded federal assistance to foster parents.
After Mace finished his speech, McIntyre headed for the doorway, where he briefly spoke to Mace and waved.
“Trans youth are also foster youth and need your support,” he allegedly told lawmakers, according to Foster Care Advocates, who attended the event.
The statement was a reference to the fact that a 2019 survey found that around 30% of young foster parents were identified as LGBTQ and 5% were identified as transgender.
After Mace left the event, one of her aides returned to the reception and asked McIntyre for his name, repeating what he had said to Mace.
McIntyre left the reception but was summoned to the Rayburn House Office Building by Capitol Police, who appeared with “overwhelming beings” to arrest him.
As reported by hillMace claimed that McIntyre had aggressively waving his arm for a few seconds “in an exaggerated way” and that she tried to pull away, causing her to injure in the process. However, the outlet also reported that reception attendees who saw the exchange said that Mace and McIntyre’s encounter looked like a “benign handshake.”
McIntyre has been charged with assaulting a government official. He pleaded not guilty to DC Superior Court.
Mace introduced the resolution Transgender women are prohibited He wrote to X that he was accused by a “pro-trans man” for “my battle to protect women” from women’s bathrooms and other facilities at the Capitol.
She claimed that the injury was so bad that she needed wrist braces and that she saw her walking around the Capitol with her arms in a sling.
According to Washington Posta single sentence filed in DC Superior Court on April 1, indicating that the District of Columbia’s U.S. Lawyer’s Office would not move forward by indicting McIntyre.
There was no reason for the decision, and a spokesman for the US law firm declined to comment.
Mace criticized the decision.
“When men can physically attack women in the Congressional Hall of Fame, they are immunized, and it sends a horrifying message to all women in America,” she said through a spokesman. “If that could happen here, it could happen everywhere. I was intentionally injured and I’m still in pain. I was inexplicably ignored. But I won’t step back. I’m not threatened.
The spokesman added that lawmakers were not contacted or discussed about their decision to withdraw the charges.
Mace told SC-based NBC affiliate Charleston WCBD The foster parent “lied about what happened” when someone who objected to her explanation of her interaction with McIntyre.
Pierce Suen, an attorney for McIntyre at Georgetown University Law Center, declined to comment on the charges.
A statement issued through Illinois State Assemblyman Kelly Cassidy (transgender lesbian) said McIntyre was “satisfied, but not surprised that these unfounded fees have been removed.”
The statement also said Mace’s accusations “showed her desire to criminalize those who defend the needs of trans youth,” and the accusations were more broadly indicative of the Trump administration’s attempts to “criminate protected speeches and create an environment of terror among supporters.”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
