From the Capitol to Sullivan's Island, a Case Moves Forward

There are moments when a voice on the floor of Congress carries more than legislative intent. In February 2025, Representative Nancy Mace stood before her colleagues and spoke for nearly an hour about crimes against women—crimes she said she had uncovered, documented, and felt compelled to name. It was a speech that many heard, but few could have predicted where it would lead.

On Wednesday, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced charges against three of the four men Mace accused in that speech. John Douglas Osborne, 46, was charged with first-degree assault and battery and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Brendan Patrick Bryant, 53, Mace's former fiancé, was charged with voyeurism. Eric Bernard Bowman, 46, faces charges of voyeurism, obstruction of justice, and publishing the name of a victim of criminal sexual conduct.

The charges stem from an alleged incident on October 26, 2018, on Sullivan's Island, a barrier island near Charleston. According to sworn affidavits, a 23-year-old woman had been drinking and fell into a swimming pool. She removed her wet clothes except for her bra and passed out on a sofa. While she was unconscious, the three men allegedly discussed sexual exploits before agreeing that Osborne would have sex with her as the others watched.

The documents allege that Osborne kissed, digitally penetrated, and performed oral sex on the incapacitated woman while Bryant and Bowman watched. They are also accused of taking photos and video of the incident. An unidentified witness allegedly overheard the conversation and watched Bowman and Bryant via a home security video feed, later saving two still images and writing a journal entry detailing what she saw.

Bowman faces an additional obstruction charge. According to SLED, when agents sought a specific cellphone in a search warrant, Bowman provided a device that had been factory reset just days earlier, removing all data. He also allegedly posted the victim's name and a video in which she could be identified on social media, despite knowing she was the victim in an ongoing investigation.

All three men appeared in bond court Wednesday. Bond was set at $225,000 for Osborne, $50,000 for Bryant, and $175,000 for Bowman. A SLED victim's advocate told the court that one of the men has a recent violent criminal history and a history of violating bond conditions, calling him a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Mace, who is leaving the House this term after losing her bid for South Carolina governor, did not publicly address the charges directly. On social media, she posted a photo of herself in the same dress she wore the day she made the floor speech, accompanied by a caption calling for bills to protect women and girls from predators. "Women and children deserve to be safe," she said. "We will always stand with women, children and survivors. And we will not stop until every predator is held accountable".

All three men have previously denied Mace's allegations. The investigation remains ongoing, and the charges have not yet been tested in court.

AI Image Disclaimer: This article's image is AI-generated and does not depict the actual individuals or crime scene involved.

Sources: Associated Press, UPI, FOX Carolina, WETM, WCBD