George Stephanopoulos and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) engaged in a heated 10-minute debate on Sunday regarding the latter’s continued support of former President Donald Trump, despite his legal troubles. Stephanopoulos pointed out that two civil juries have found Trump liable for rape.
Stephanopoulos and the congresswoman engaged in one of the more heated Sunday program interviews in recent memory, with the pyrotechnics starting immediately. Stephanoulos began the episode by playing Mace’s testimony in the South Carolina legislature, during which she stated that she had been raped.
“Two separate juries have found [Trump] liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape,” Stephanopoulos said in a statement. “How do you square your endorsement of Donald Trump with the testimony we just saw?”
Mace responded indignantly.
“I was raped at the age of 16,” Mace stated. “As any rape survivor will tell you, I’ve lived for 30 years with an immense sense of humiliation about being raped. I didn’t come forward because I felt judged and shamed. And it’s a shame you won’t feel, George. And I’m not going to sit here on your show and be asked a question designed to humiliate me about another prospective rape victim.”
“It’s actually not about shaming you,” Stephanopoulos stated.
“No, you are shaming me!” Mace responded.
“You’ve endorsed Donald Trump for president,” Stephanopoulos stated. “A jury found Donald Trump liable for rape.” A jury held Donald Trump responsible for the defamation of the rape victim. A judge has confirmed it.
“It’s not a criminal court case, number one,” he remarked. “Number two, I live with shame, and you’re asking me a question about my political choices, trying to shame me as a rape victim, and I find it disgusting.”
The congresswoman went on to criticize E. Jean Carroll, the victim of the rape for which Trump was judged accountable.
“Quite frankly, E. Jean Carroll’s comments when she did get the judgment, joking about what she was going to buy, make it harder for women to come forward when they make a mockery out of rape,” she added. “When they joke about it.”
According to Stephanopoulos, “Women will not come forward because those who commit rape defame them.”
The two proceeded to argue, with Mace taking offense when Stephanopoulos questioned why she was defending a man convicted of rape by two juries.
“As a rape victim who’s been shamed for years now because of her rape, you’re trying to shame me again by asking me this political question,” she added.
“You’ve repeated that again and again,” Stephanopoulos remarked.
“It’s offensive!” Mace shot back.
Later, after Mace repeated that the verdict against Trump was rendered in a civil court rather than a criminal court, Stephanopoulos inquired, “Is that the distinction you’re making?” A civil judgment is fine, but a criminal judgment is not.”
“This is different!” Mace insisted.
After more back-and-forth, Mace lashed out, “What you’ve done is offensive to women who have been raped.” What you did this morning is offensive.”
Stephanopoulos seemed unfazed, saying, “We’ll let the viewers decide.”
From there, the battle raged on, with Stephanopoulos confronting Mace about her flip-flop on whether Trump should hold office in the wake of the Jan. 6 attacks.
