South Carolina authorities arrested a 19-year-old transgender “activist” from Greenville on Thursday after he threatened to assassinate Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on social media.
Samuel Theodore Cain, a transgender-identifying biological male, has been arrested and booked at the Greenville County Detention Center on charges that allege he threatened Mace’s life, the Washington Examiner confirmed.
“I’M GOING TO ASSASSINATE REPRESENTATIVE NANCY MACE WITH A GUN AND I’M BEING 100% DEAD ASS,” Cain wrote on X April 26 under the username raystr1ker. The account has since been deleted after Cain posted that he was worried about being “doxxed and murdered.”
Mace blamed the “trans movement” for the threat in a statement shared with the Washington Examiner.
“The trans movement is fueling violence,” Mace said. “Capitol Police and SLED moved fast on this death threat, and they should. No one should face murder threats for calling out radical gender ideology. This isn’t just about me. It’s an attack on free speech, rule of law, and anyone brave enough to speak the truth about biology.”
“We won’t back down. We won’t stop fighting to protect women and kids,” Mace added. “I am deeply grateful for the US Capitol Police and SLED for keeping me, my family and my employees safe.”
Mace later added in a post on X, “Roxie was ‘dead*ss’ arrested. We’ll let the photo stand for itself because this individual is obviously unwell in more ways than one. Hopefully they have makeup wipes in prison.”
Real men don’t threaten or hurt women. Although, you obviously wouldn’t know that.
You also apparently didn’t know actions have consequences. pic.twitter.com/LtfuwMRiJ6
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) May 15, 2025
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina declined to prosecute Cain, according to the Post Millennial.
Cain has had a temporary bond set and is formally charged with threatening the life of a public official, which carries a sentence of no more than five years and a fine of no more than $5,000. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division told the Washington Examiner that the case will be prosecuted by the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The arrest warrant for Cain confirms it was issued over the April 26 post, and the warrant was signed by a judge on May 12.
South Carolina-based Snell Law Firm says a valid defense for someone charged under the law could be to argue they had a lack of intent or were joking. Andy Ngo reported that the FBI contacted Cain and he told the agency that he “didn’t mean” the threat.
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Mace has received numerous threats since she introduced a resolution in November 2024 proposing to ban transgender people from using bathrooms that don’t correspond with their biological sex.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Capitol Police for comment.