Three South Carolina men accused by Rep. Nancy Mace of sexual misconduct were charged on October 14, 2026, over an alleged 2018 incident involving an intoxicated woman, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
The three men, who were among four named by Mace in a 2025 House speech, were booked into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center, according to court records.
Charges Filed in 2018 Assault Case
Mace accused the men of serious sexual misconduct during an October 2018 incident at a Sullivan’s Island home, where a 23-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted while unconscious. SLED’s investigation, which began in December 2023, focused on claims that Osborne, Bryant, and Bowman discussed sexual exploits
before the assault, with Osborne allegedly committing the act while the others watched, according to arrest warrants.
👀John Osborne, one of the four men accused of sexual assault by @NancyMace in her famed "scored earth" speech back in February 2025, was booked at 7:22 a.m. EDT this morning at the Charleston County detention center.No information is available yet regarding the circumstances… pic.twitter.com/kTAPtwuyBf
Bowman also faced charges of publishing the name of a victim of criminal sexual conduct after posting the woman’s identity and a video of the incident on social media, SLED said. Bryant was charged with voyeurism, linked to the incident involving the 23-year-old woman, while Osborne’s case centered on allegations of nonconsensual sexual contact, including oral and digital acts, as detailed in probable cause affidavits.
A witness viewing a home-security video feed observed the incident, took two still photos, and preserved them as evidence. The documents state that Bryant and Bowman watched for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire,
while Osborne unlawfully committed a sexual battery
against the victim.
Mace’s 2025 Speech Spurred Legal Responses
Mace’s accusations, which she detailed in a February 2025 House floor speech, sparked immediate legal responses. Bryant and Bowman denied the allegations, with Bryant stating he would cooperate fully with any necessary legal processes to clear my name,
according to a statement cited by The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Brian Musgrave, the fourth man named by Mace, was not charged, though he sued her over the claims.
Musgrave’s attorneys argued that Mace’s claims lacked even a scintilla of evidence,
and a judge dismissed his lawsuit, citing the speech or debate
clause protecting members of Congress from being sued over what they say on the floor.
Mace described the assault at length in her speech that named the men. The charges initiate criminal proceedings against the men and do not establish guilt, per SLED.
The Victim’s Perspective and Legal Proceedings
Mace said she accidentally uncovered some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable.
Bowman was accused of wiping his phone when SLED investigators attempted to seize it under a search warrant, SLED said. Bryant’s legal team did not respond to requests for comment.
According to a probable cause affidavit accompanying a warrant for Bowman’s arrest, Bryant was booked. EDT. The three men were released after posting bond. The case will be prosecuted by the 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, with the 2018 incident serving as the basis for the charges.
Mace’s Advocacy Focuses on Victim Protection
Mace’s ex-fiancé, Bryant, and two of his business associates were also charged with sex crimes and voyeurism. Mace’s speech, which included a display of Musgrave’s face alongside Mace while she delivered that speech, was described as a “scorched earth” address, where she vowed to not stop fighting until our laws put victims first and predators behind bars.
The arrests followed a lengthy investigation by SLED, which began in December 2023. The agency said it had been investigating at least one of the men Mace named in her speech since that time. The case has drawn attention to the challenges of holding powerful individuals accountable, as Mace highlighted in her speech, referencing cases like the alleged 2024 gang rape at Cornell University.
The 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will prosecute the case, with the charges not implying guilt.