Suspended SC state Rep. RJ May resigns as he faces federal child porn charges
'I have decided that it is in the best interest of my family and constituents to resign immediately from the South Carolina House of Representatives,' May wrote in his resignation letter. 'It has been an honor to serve the people of District 88.'
May, who was taken into custody in June, had been suspended from office and was the subject of an ethics committee complaint setting the stage for his removal from office. His resignation does not affect the complaint.
May is being held in the Edgefield County Detention Center without bond pending trial.
The SC House Freedom Caucus, which May helped create, called on him to resign after he was taken into custody.
That group of hard-line conservative lawmakers welcomed the news of May's resignation as it has sought to distance itself from the embattled lawmaker.
'RJ May's resignation from the South Carolina House of Representatives is long overdue,' the Freedom Caucus said in a statement. 'The people of District 88 deserve true and honorable representation. While we welcome this resignation, we strongly believe that the SC House should have acted to expel RJ May after he was indicted for such heinous crimes.'
House Majority Leader Davey Hiott said in a statement May's resignation should have happened a year ago, after the raid on May's house.
Hiott said hopes the House Ethics Committee investigation following the complaint he filed will continue regardless of the resignation.
'I hope members of the House Freedom Caucus don't think this will end this investigation,' Hiott said in a statement. 'As reported by the media, and recent statements made by Mr. May during his jailhouse confessions, they appear to have uncovered numerous questions over campaign finance irregularities. Frankly, (Freedom Caucus Chairman Jordan) Pace's comments today on behalf of the House Freedom Caucus and his efforts to quell that investigation only raise further concerns.'
May's resignation allows for a special election to replace him and have his seat filled before the legislative session begins in January.
Filing for the seat is expected to begin later this month, with a primary if necessary expected to be in October, and a general election for the seat in December.
May's letter to the House Speaker was sent Thursday. It was received Monday.
May, who owns a political consulting business, was elected to the Lexington County seat in 2020.
The race to replace May already is underway.
Brian Duncan, of Lexington County, who mounted a write-in campaign in October of 2024 in District 88 after federal agents raided May's house, has been gearing up to run in a special election expecting the seat to become vacant.
'When the special election occurs in the coming months, I will be ready to continue the work I began last year meeting with residents, listening to their concerns, and sharing my vision for a stronger District 88,' Duncan said in a statement.
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