South Carolina authorities have charged Rep. Nancy Mace’s former fiancé and two business associates in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving an incapacitated woman, more than a year after the congresswoman publicly accused the men of misconduct.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
South Carolina authorities arrested Rep. Nancy Mace’s former fiancé and two of his business associates Wednesday, October 14, on charges involving sexual assault, voyeurism and obstruction of justice stemming from an alleged 2018 incident that the Republican congresswoman described during a House floor speech last year.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced charges against Brendan Patrick Bryant, 53, John Douglas Osborne, 46, and Eric Bernard Bowman, 46, following an investigation into allegations involving a 23-year-old woman at a residence on Sullivan’s Island, near Charleston.
Osborne faces one count of first-degree assault and battery and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Bryant is charged with voyeurism, while Bowman faces charges of voyeurism, obstruction of justice and unlawfully publishing the name of a sexual assault victim.
According to sworn statements from state investigators, the woman was heavily intoxicated and incapacitated when the alleged assault occurred in October 2018. Authorities said she had fallen into a swimming pool before being placed on a couch inside the residence.
Investigators allege Osborne engaged in sexual acts with the woman while Bryant and Bowman watched. The men allegedly discussed the assault beforehand, photographed and recorded the incident, and viewed footage captured by the home’s security system.
Another woman reportedly witnessed the incident through the security feed and documented what she observed in photographs and a journal, according to investigators.
Bowman faces an additional obstruction charge after allegedly performing a factory reset on a cellphone that authorities were seeking through a search warrant. Investigators also accused him of publishing the alleged victim’s identity and a video involving her on X.
The three men were booked into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in Charleston County. The case will be prosecuted by the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The arrests follow a nearly hourlong speech Mace delivered on the House floor in February 2025, during which she publicly accused Bryant and several associates of sexually exploiting women.
Mace said she discovered disturbing photographs and videos while examining Bryant’s cellphone during their relationship, prompting her to investigate what she described as evidence of abuse involving multiple women.
“I accidentally uncovered some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable. We’re talking about rape, non-consensual photos, non-consensual videos of women and underage girls, and the premeditated, calculated exploitation of women and girls in my district,” Mace said during the speech.
The congresswoman also criticized what she characterized as inadequate investigations into sexual assault allegations and called for stronger protections for victims.
Bryant denied the accusations when they became public in 2025, telling The Associated Press that he intended to cooperate with the legal process.
“I take this matter seriously and will cooperate fully with any necessary legal processes to clear my name,” Bryant said at the time.
Bryant did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday, while attorneys previously associated with Osborne and Bowman also did not immediately respond, according to the AP.
Following the arrests, Mace issued a statement highlighting 25 legislative proposals she has introduced to strengthen protections for victims of sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.
Among the proposals is legislation addressing retaliatory defamation lawsuits against individuals who report or publicly discuss alleged abuse. Mace introduced another measure this week that would require unsuccessful plaintiffs in certain cases to pay defendants’ attorney fees.
“Protecting women and holding predators accountable isn’t a slogan. It’s been one of my top priorities in Congress. For too long, survivors have faced broken systems while predators exploited loopholes and walked free,” Mace said.
The arrests come as Mace prepares to leave Congress after an unsuccessful campaign for South Carolina governor. She previously announced she would not seek another House term.
SLED has not publicly confirmed whether additional charges or investigations involving the three defendants are pending.
The allegations now move into the criminal justice system, where prosecutors must establish each charge through evidence presented in court. All three defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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