Two individuals were handed prison sentences on Tuesday for making death threats against Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, in cases that underscore the escalating security risks facing members of Congress.
In Indiana, federal judge sentenced 28-year-old Shayla Addison to 27 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Addison had pleaded guilty to two counts of influencing a federal official by threat. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana did not explicitly name Mace as the target, but Mace's office confirmed she was the intended victim.
According to Mace's office and the Department of Justice, Addison sent a series of violent messages in January 2025 to Mace's campaign phone, campaign email, and Instagram account. The threats included statements such as “Come outside b—- we'll kill you,” “We will kill you and blow that whole building up b—- come outside,” and “Shut up hoe I'll kill you.” The DOJ noted that Addison had a prior history of making threats against a Firehouse Subs restaurant where her ex-boyfriend worked and her mother's apartment.
Separately, in South Carolina, a judge sentenced Samuel Theodore Cain to five years in prison, suspended to 30 months of house arrest, followed by five years of probation—the maximum allowed under state law. Mace's office reported that Cain, who identified as transgender last year, posted on social media in May 2025: “I'M GOING TO ASSASSINATE REPRESENTATIVE NANCY MACE WITH A GUN AND I'M BEING 100% DEAD A–.” While in custody, Cain, who used the online alias “Roxie Wolfe,” also told a jailhouse informant that they would kill Mace if given the chance, during a discussion about the fatal shooting of activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025.
In a victim impact statement read at Cain's sentencing, Mace detailed the ongoing repercussions of the threats. “My staff immediately advised heightened security measures in the aftermath of Mr. Cain's threats,” she said. “Law enforcement increased its presence near my home and work. Everyday schedules, safety arrangements for my children, and the day-to-day functioning of my offices continue to be disrupted to this day.” Mace, who is leaving Congress, expressed gratitude on social media platform X for “the law enforcement and prosecutors” in both cases.
The cases come amid a troubling rise in threats against lawmakers. Last year, the U.S. Capitol Police investigated nearly 15,000 concerning statements, behaviors, and communications directed at members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol complex. That figure represents a roughly 57.7 percent increase from 2024, marking the third consecutive year of rising threats. The USCP attributed the surge to a “false sense of anonymity” that individuals feel online.
This trend mirrors broader concerns about political violence and online radicalization. For context, the Treasury recently implemented new screening measures that blocked $99 million in payments to deceased individuals, a separate effort to tighten security in financial systems. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to rule on birthright citizenship and transgender athlete bans, issues that often spark heated rhetoric and threats against public figures.
