SC representative charged with distributing child sexual abuse material
Rep. RJ May, R-West Columbia, listens from the back of the House chamber during an organizational session on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at the Statehouse in Columbia, SC. (Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)
COLUMBIA — A state representative has been charged with distributing child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday.
Rep. RJ May, a founding member of the state's ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, faces 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material, according to a Thursday news release.
May was arrested Wednesday outside his West Columbia home and booked in the Lexington County jail, according to jail records that quickly disappeared from public view. He is set to appear in court Thursday morning.
SC representative arrested, booked in Lexington County jail
In April 2024, social messaging app Kik flagged videos involving child sexual abuse from an account called 'joebidennnn69.' Investigators identified at least 10 such videos shared through the account and tracked it to May's house and mobile device, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Federal investigators seized electronics from the 38-year-old last August. Two months later, a court filing confirmed that they took a Lenovo laptop, an Amazon tablet, four cellphones, four hard drives, four SD cards, two DVD-Rs and 19 thumb drives.
If charged with a felony, May faces suspension from the House pending the case's outcome. State law requires an officeholder indicted on a felony to be suspended.
May also faces up to 20 years in prison, with a minimum of five years, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 if found guilty.
The Freedom Caucus, which suspended May's membership last year, called for him to resign his House seat.
May previously served as vice chairman but no longer held a leadership position after the caucus' officer elections last July. His connections in Congress helped launch the state Freedom Caucus in 2022. He acted as de facto spokesman for the group as it battled with the main Republican Caucus until the federal investigation became public.
'These crimes are heinous and we expect that they will be fully investigated,' the Freedom Caucus statement read.
SC Freedom Caucus leader could soon face federal charges, court filing confirms
May has not been involved with Freedom Caucus activities since last August, said Rep. Jordan Pace, R-Goose Creek, the caucus' current chairman. May attended this year's session, he stayed quiet, not getting involved in floor debates and continuing to vote alongside the Freedom Caucus.
Originally from Virginia, May is married and has two children. He runs consulting firm Ivory Tusk Consulting.
The last legislator suspended while facing federal charges was Rep. Rick Martin in 2021. The Newberry Republican was charged with giving alcohol to a 15-year-old girl and trying to influence an investigation, which he denied at the time.
Martin lost a bid for reelection the following year, losing the primary election to Freedom Caucus member Rep. Joe White.
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