Latest news with #RJMay
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Suspended SC state Rep. RJ May resigns as he faces federal child porn charges
State Rep. RJ May, a lawmaker facing a 10-count indictment for distributing child sexual abuse material, has resigned. '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. Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
South Carolina lawmaker awaiting trial on child sex abuse material charges resigns from office
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina Republican lawmaker in jail awaiting trial on charges he distributed sexual abuse material involving children has resigned his seat in the state House. RJ May's resignation letter was dated Thursday but didn't arrive at the offices of House leadership until Monday morning. May wrote that 'it is in the best interests of my family and constituents to resign immediately.' It does not mention the 10 charges he faces or the more than a decade in prison that prosecutors have suggested May could face if convicted.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Carolina lawmaker awaiting trial on child sex abuse material charges resigns from office
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina Republican lawmaker in jail awaiting trial on charges he distributed sexual abuse material involving children has resigned his seat in the state House. RJ May's resignation letter was dated Thursday but didn't arrive at the offices of House leadership until Monday morning. May wrote that 'it is in the best interests of my family and constituents to resign immediately.' It does not mention the 10 charges he faces or the more than a decade in prison that prosecutors have suggested May could face if convicted. The return address on the letter was May's Lexington post office box. He is currently being held at the Edgefield County jail without bond as he awaits trial as soon as next month. May's federal public defender did not respond to an email Monday. The three-term Republican is accused of using the screen name 'joebidennnn69' to exchange 220 different files of toddlers and young children involved in sex acts on the Kik social media network for about five days in spring 2024, according to court documents that graphically detailed the videos. The files were uploaded and downloaded using May's home Wi-Fi network and his cellphone, prosecutors said. Some were hidden by the use of a private network but others were directly linked to his internet addresses. At his arraignment, May's lawyer suggested someone could have used the Wi-Fi password that was shown on a board behind a photo May's wife may have posted online. Each of the 10 charges carries a five-to-20-year prison sentence upon conviction. Calls for May's resignation were nearly unanimous in the South Carolina House, including members who were most closely aligned with May as he helped found the Freedom Caucus of the chamber's most conservative members. The House Ethics Committee last month started an investigation that appeared to be the first step in trying to kick May out of the House. May worked as a political consultant. He was elected in 2020 and in his five years in the House upset many mainstream Republicans as he continued to run campaigns for people looking to knock out incumbents in GOP primaries. The timing of May's resignation should allow his replacement to be chosen in a special election before the 2026 General Assembly session starts in January.
Toronto Star
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
South Carolina lawmaker awaiting trial on child sex abuse material charges resigns from office
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina Republican lawmaker in jail awaiting trial on charges he distributed sexual abuse material involving children has resigned his seat in the state House. RJ May's resignation letter was dated Thursday but didn't arrive at the offices of House leadership until Monday morning.
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
South Carolina lawmaker awaiting trial on child sex abuse material charges resigns from office
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina Republican lawmaker in jail awaiting trial on charges he distributed sexual abuse material involving children has resigned his seat in the state House. RJ May's resignation letter was dated Thursday but didn't arrive at the offices of House leadership until Monday morning. May wrote that 'it is in the best interests of my family and constituents to resign immediately.' It does not mention the 10 charges he faces or the more than a decade in prison that prosecutors have suggested May could face if convicted. The return address on the letter was May's Lexington post office box. He is currently being held at the Edgefield County jail without bond as he awaits trial as soon as next month. May's federal public defender did not respond to an email Monday. The three-term Republican is accused of using the screen name 'joebidennnn69' to exchange 220 different files of toddlers and young children involved in sex acts on the Kik social media network for about five days in spring 2024, according to court documents that graphically detailed the videos. The files were uploaded and downloaded using May's home Wi-Fi network and his cellphone, prosecutors said. Some were hidden by the use of a private network but others were directly linked to his internet addresses. At his arraignment, May's lawyer suggested someone could have used the Wi-Fi password that was shown on a board behind a photo May's wife may have posted online. Each of the 10 charges carries a five-to-20-year prison sentence upon conviction. Calls for May's resignation were nearly unanimous in the South Carolina House, including members who were most closely aligned with May as he helped found the Freedom Caucus of the chamber's most conservative members. The House Ethics Committee last month started an investigation that appeared to be the first step in trying to kick May out of the House. May worked as a political consultant. He was elected in 2020 and in his five years in the House upset many mainstream Republicans as he continued to run campaigns for people looking to knock out incumbents in GOP primaries. The timing of May's resignation should allow his replacement to be chosen in a special election before the 2026 General Assembly session starts in January.
