South Carolina authorities have filed charges against three men in connection with a 2018 sexual assault case that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) publicly highlighted in a House floor speech last year. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced the arrests on Wednesday, identifying the defendants as John Douglas Osborne, 46, Brendan Patrick Bryant, 53, and Eric Bernard Bowman, 46.
Bryant, a Charleston-area resident, is Mace's former fiancé. The charges relate to an incident on Sullivan's Island on October 26, 2018, according to SLED. The three men were taken into custody and face multiple sexual offense charges, though specific counts were not immediately detailed in the announcement.
Affidavits obtained by local media paint a disturbing picture. The documents state that a 23-year-old woman had been drinking, fell into a swimming pool, and later passed out on a sofa while severely intoxicated. She was reportedly unable to speak coherently or walk without assistance.
While the victim was unconscious, the three men allegedly discussed sexual acts before agreeing that Osborne would have sex with her while the other two watched, officials said. The affidavits describe a coordinated effort to take advantage of a vulnerable woman.
Mace, who has been a vocal advocate for sexual assault survivors, took to the House floor in late 2024 to accuse the men of being “sexual predators,” though she did not name them at the time. Her speech drew national attention and prompted calls for a thorough investigation.
In a statement Wednesday, Mace thanked SLED for their work and reiterated her support for the victim. “No woman should ever have to endure what happened on Sullivan's Island,” she said. “I am grateful that justice is finally moving forward.”
The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of how sexual assault cases are handled in the state. Advocates have long criticized the slow pace of investigations, particularly in cases involving powerful individuals or those with political connections.
Osborne, Bryant, and Bowman are expected to appear in court in the coming weeks. It remains unclear whether they have retained attorneys or entered pleas. SLED has not released additional details about the evidence or the timeline of the investigation.
This development adds another layer to Mace's public profile as a Republican lawmaker who has often broken with her party on issues of personal conduct and accountability. Her decision to speak out on the House floor was seen as a rare move for a sitting member of Congress addressing a personal matter.
As the legal process unfolds, the case is likely to reignite debates about how institutions—both political and judicial—respond to allegations of sexual violence. For now, the focus remains on the three defendants and the justice system's ability to deliver a resolution.
