Former George Santos staffer hired by Nancy Mace

The aide resigned from Santos' office after his damning ethics report

I owe nothing to anybody except the voters who elected me: Rep. Nancy Mace

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., describes herself as a ‘maverick’ on ‘MediaBuzz’ and says the media ‘persecuted’ her over voting to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

EXCLUSIVE: A former aide to ousted Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., is now being employed by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Fox News Digital has learned.

Santos' former communications director, Gabrielle Lipsky, started in a similar role for Mace this month, two sources told Fox News Digital. Her name and email were confirmed in a call to Mace's Mount Pleasant district office on Monday afternoon.

Lipsky resigned from Santos' office in mid-November, shortly after a damning report by the House Ethics Committee found that the former congressman misused campaign funds and accused him of violating criminal law, Semafor reported at the time. 

The House voted to expel Santos on Dec. 1 shortly after the report was released. 

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George Santos, Nancy Mace

A former staffer for ousted Rep. George Santos is now working for Rep. Nancy Mace, Fox News Digital has learned. (Getty Images)

Lipsky did not respond to multiple emails from Fox News Digital regarding the new role. A voicemail was left at Mace's Washington, D.C., office Friday similarly seeking confirmation, but was not returned.

The staffer defended working for Santos last February in an interview with Business Insider, as revelations were breaking that the ex-congressman lied about his work history, education and family heritage, among other details. "At the end of the day, the congressman has a job to do, and he needs people to help him do that," she said at the time.

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Santos is facing 23 federal charges related to misuse of donor funds, identity theft and other accusations. The most recent charges were levied against him in October.

The report of Lipsky's hiring comes after Mace's office lost several senior staffers in recent months, including her chief of staff, deputy chief and communications director.T

Republican New York Rep. George Santos

Santos was expelled in the wake of a damning ethics report. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Mace was accused of making lewd comments in the office by three sources who spoke anonymously with the Daily Mail in December. 

A Daily Beast report from November claimed Mace had a "handbook" for staffers that allegedly said, among other things, that her office must send out at least one press release per day and put her on TV at least nine times per week.

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Mace told Fox News Digital during a Nov. 3 interview that she had not read the report, and shrugged off its accusations.

Nancy Mace surrounded by Capitol Hill reporters

Mace lost several senior staffers in recent weeks. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

"If someone wants to attack me for working hard and being demanding and wanting to ensure that our staff is organized and working hard for the almost 800,000 constituents that they represent, game on. Bring it. I don't care. We're going to continue to work hard for the Lowcountry, for South Carolina, and for the nation," she said at the time.

The South Carolina Republican was one of eight House GOP lawmakers who voted to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker last year. 

Elizabeth Elkind is a reporter for Fox News Digital focused on Congress as well as the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Authored by Elizabeth Elkind via FoxNews January 8th 2024