South Carolina GOP Lawmaker RJ May Resigns Amid Child Sex Abuse Material Charges
- Victor Nwoko
- Aug 11
- 2 min read
South Carolina state Rep. RJ May, a Republican lawmaker jailed on federal charges of distributing child sexual abuse material, has resigned from his seat in the state House of Representatives.
May submitted his resignation letter Thursday, but House leadership did not receive it until Monday morning. In the letter, he stated that stepping down was "in the best interests of my family and constituents" but made no reference to the 10 criminal charges he faces. If convicted, May could face over a decade in prison.
The resignation letter was sent from May’s Lexington post office box. He remains in custody at the Edgefield County jail without bond as he awaits trial, which could begin as early as next month. His federal public defender did not respond to requests for comment.
Court documents allege that May, using the screen name “joebidennnn69,” exchanged 220 files depicting toddlers and young children in sexual acts over the Kik social media platform during a five-day period in spring 2024. Prosecutors say the files were uploaded and downloaded using May’s home Wi-Fi network and cellphone. While some activity was concealed through a private network, other files were directly linked to his internet addresses.
At his arraignment, May’s attorney suggested someone else may have accessed his Wi-Fi, pointing to a password visible in a photo his wife may have posted online. Each of the 10 charges carries a potential sentence of five to 20 years in prison.
Calls for May’s resignation were widespread in the South Carolina House, including from fellow members of the Freedom Caucus, a conservative group he helped found. The House Ethics Committee had launched an investigation last month, signaling possible expulsion proceedings.
May, a political consultant, was first elected in 2020 and frequently clashed with mainstream Republicans by backing primary challengers against GOP incumbents. His resignation allows for a special election to fill his seat before the 2026 legislative session begins in January.
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