Congresswoman Nancy Mace Responds To Rape Victim’s Class Action Lawsuit Against Predators From Mace’s Floor Speech
These men didn’t just rape the victim, they planned it, recorded it, while children were in the home
(Charleston, S.C., May 29, 2025) — Today, a brave survivor of rape and sexual exploitation filed a civil class action lawsuit against three men mentioned in Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s February 10th floor speech: Eric Bowman, Patrick Bryant, and John Osborne.
According to Congresswoman Mace, the victim, after being incapacitated, was sexually assaulted and the assault was filmed. The video was saved and stored for more than five years after.
All of this happened without the victim’s knowledge.
The lawsuit seeks to hold the perpetrators accountable for the premeditated, and deeply traumatizing assault.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who originally uncovered video evidence of the assault, issued the following statement:
“This young woman didn’t know she was raped because she was unconscious when it happened. I told her the truth after I found the footage. It was one of the hardest conversations of my life. Her strength in coming forward is immeasurable. And I will stand with her, under oath, every step of the way.”
According to Congresswoman Mace, the victim was raped at a property owned by Eric Bowman on Sullivan’s Island, S.C. Patrick Bryant and Eric Bowman sat by with their phones out while John Osborne carried out the assault. As revealed by Congresswoman Mace in her floor speech on February 10, 2025, this assault was premeditated and orchestrated while children were in the home.
Mace accidentally uncovered the footage in November 2023. What she discovered was staggering: video of the assault, photos of the victim, and corroborating metadata. She would eventually identify the victim and inform her of the assault. Mace turned over what she uncovered to law enforcement.
“This isn’t just about one woman, this is about predators who have operated with impunity for far too long,” Mace continued. “The lawsuit filed today is only the start, only the first step toward justice for her and others. It's proof predators can be exposed. That truth matters. That survivors have power. And that justice isn’t optional, it’s long overdue.”
The lawsuit comes after more than one year of inaction from state authorities.
“When the system fails to protect victims, it’s not just broken, it’s complicit,” Mace said. “Every woman harmed by predators deserves justice. If our Solicitor and Attorney General won’t fight for them, I will.”
To other potential victims, Congresswoman Mace says:
“I have your back.”
Congresswoman Mace encourages other potential victims of these predators to come forward. Potential victims may contact SLED’s lead investigator directly at: Haley Nelson, hnelson@sled.sc.gov.
A tipline also remains active with the Congresswoman’s office at 843.212.7048 for those who believe they may have been recorded, sexually assaulted, or otherwise victimized or abused by these predators.
LEGISLATION
Bills Congresswoman Mace has filed in the aftermath of her discovery of rape and voyeurism in South Carolina affecting her constituents, include but are not limited to the following legislation:
- The Sue VOYEURS Act creates a civil right of action for victims of voyeurism.
- The Stop VOYEURS Act expands the very narrow criminal prohibition against video voyeurism at the federal level.
- H.R.7567 addresses deep fakes.
- The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act would deport sex offenders, pedophiles and murderers here illegally.
- The Safe Shelters Act prohibits sex offenders from entering or using the services of emergency shelters.
- The Rape Shield Enhancement Act to protect the privacy of rape victims.
- The Stop the Invasion of Women’s Spaces Act defunds any entity who allows an individual to use a single-sex facility that does not correspond to their biological sex.
- The Protecting Women’s Private Spaces Act prohibits people from using single-sex facilities on Federal property other than those corresponding to their biological sex.
- The Prison Rape Prevention Act requires inmates to be housed based on biological sex.
- The VANISH Act addresses revenge porn.
- H.R.8180 increases the civil penalty for revenge porn in Violence Against Women Act from $150k to $500k.
- H.Res.1579 prohibits Members, officers, and employees of the US House from using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.
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