Three men Nancy Mace named on House floor charged over 2018 Sullivan's Island incident

Centre · 1The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced on Wednesday 14 October 2026 that Charleston County had charged John Douglas Osborne, 46, Brendan Patrick Bryant, 53, and Eric Bernard Bowman, 46. 1 Mixed · 2Osborne faces one count of first-degree assault and battery and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct; Bryant, Mace's former fiancé, is charged with voyeurism; Bowman is charged with voyeurism, obstruction of justice and publishing the name of a victim of criminal sexual conduct. 1 2 Mixed · 2The charges relate to an October 26, 2018 incident on Sullivan's Island, near Charleston, involving a 23-year-old woman who authorities say was intoxicated and unable to consent. 1 2

Mixed · 2According to the warrants and affidavits, Bryant and Bowman watched while Osborne assaulted the woman, and the men discussed sexually exploiting her; images were taken during the incident. 1 2 Mixed · 2Investigators say a witness saw the incident on a home-security video feed and preserved images; The Independent adds that this witness was another woman who wrote about it in a journal. 1 2 Left · 1The Independent reports that Bowman's obstruction charge stems from agents' claim that he factory-reset a phone he knew investigators were seeking, and that the victim-naming charge stems from his posting her name and a video of her on X. 2

Centre · 1The three were among four men Mace named in a February 2025 House speech; the fourth, Brian Musgrave, was not charged on Wednesday. 1 Mixed · 2In that speech Mace said she had in November 2023 uncovered crimes against women, and said she was speaking out because the state's top prosecutor had not acted; she also accused Bryant of abusing her and recording sexual acts without women's consent. 2 1 Centre · 1Bryant denied the allegations at the time, telling the Associated Press: "I categorically deny these allegations," and that he would cooperate with legal processes to clear his name. Newsweek said it had asked SLED, the sheriff's office and the accused's attorneys for comment. 1

Left · 1Mace and Bryant were not yet engaged at the time of the 2018 incident, according to The Independent. 2 Mixed · 2Mace responded that protecting women and holding predators accountable is a top priority; her team told Newsweek she cannot say more because she is under a court order in a civil case. 1 2 Left · 1The Independent reports her statement listed 25 bills to protect victims, and that she is leaving the House after losing her bid for South Carolina governor and this week proposed requiring losing plaintiffs in such cases to pay defendants' attorney fees. 2

Centre · 1All three were booked into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center, and the 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office will prosecute. Newsweek stresses the charges are allegations, do not establish guilt, and do not establish Mace's broader claims. 1