Rep. Nancy Mace sues man she accused in House floor speech for defamation

Bristow Marchant, The State on May 12, 2025

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U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has filed a defamation lawsuit against a man she previously accused of involvement in sex crimes.

The lawsuit filed in a Charleston court Monday accuses Eric Bowman of defaming her in a series of tweets that the lawsuit calls “objectively falsehoods,” including the allegation that Mace did “illegally steer or influence the award of contracts with the VA to friends, associates, and political allies” — including to a company operated by Bowman’s “estranged wife,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuits includes a half-dozen examples of social media posts by Bowman making what the lawsuit says are false allegations against Mace.

“Bowman acted with a reckless disregard for the truth in repeatedly making such statements without support or any attempt to verify the veracity of such statements,” the suit alleges. Bowman’s accusations “undermine both her ability to execute the duties of her office and the citizenry’s confidence in such abilities.”

She asks for monetary and punitive damages to be awarded at trial.

Mace previously took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in February to accuse four South Carolina men, including Mace’s ex-fiance, of being involved in drugging, filming and sexually assaulting women without their consent, after she allegedly found evidence of crimes on her ex-fiance’s cell phone. Mace said at the time she believes she may have even been victimized herself.

In the speech, Mace also accused S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson of not acting on her complaints about the alleged crimes. Wilson denied that he was aware of the accusations before Mace made them in her congressional speech. Both Mace and Wilson are considered likely contenders for the Republican nomination for governor next year.

Bowman, 45, was previously arrested last month by Sullivan’s Island police on charges of harassment and stalking. Police said at the time the charges were unrelated to the accusations made by Mace.

Mace’s is the second lawsuit to result from her floor speech. In March, another man mentioned by Mace, Brian Musgrave of Fort Mill, filed his own defamation lawsuit against the congresswoman. Musgrave denied any involvement in or knowledge of the illegal activity Mace has talked about.

By making her accusations on the floor of the House, Mace is protected by the Constitution’s “speech and debate clause” which protects congressional remarks from being legally challenged. Musgrave’s lawsuit accuses Mace of spreading the claims via her X account, just as Mace’s lawsuit against Bowman does.

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