South Carolina Republican Representative RJ May has been federally charged with distributing child sexual abuse material and has resigned from his House seat.
South Carolina Rep. RJ May (R) charged with distributing child sexual abuse material.

Republican in South Carolina arrested over distribution of child sexual abuse material - South Carolina | The Guardian
Source: theguardian.com
Key Evidence
South Carolina Public Radio reported on June 12, 2025, that Rep. RJ May was indicted on federal charges for distributing child sex abuse material and suspended by the House Speaker.
southcarolinapublicradio.orgsouthcarolinapublicradio.orgRepublican SC Rep. RJ May charged with distributing child sex abuse material
The Independent and The Guardian detailed the 10 counts against May, including his use of a specific screen name on social media platforms.
the-independent.comthe-independent.comSouth Carolina state Rep RJ May accused of distributing child sexual abuse...
theguardian.comtheguardian.comRepublican in South Carolina arrested over distribution of child sexual abuse...
AP News and SC Daily Gazette confirmed that May resigned from his House seat following these charges.
apnews.comapnews.comSouth Carolina lawmaker quits House seat following charges of distributing child...
scdailygazette.comscdailygazette.comSC legislator charged with distributing videos of child sexual abuse resigns •...
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple reputable news sources confirm that RJ May, a Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives and cofounder of the state's House Freedom Caucus, was indicted on federal charges related to distributing child sexual abuse material. The indictment includes 10 counts of distribution, with allegations involving use of the Kik social media platform and a specific screen name. Following the indictment, May was suspended by the House Speaker and subsequently resigned his legislative seat while awaiting trial.
The charges carry severe penalties, including a minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of twenty years, along with substantial fines. Court orders have kept May detained pending trial. This sequence of events is well-documented across multiple independent and authoritative news outlets, confirming the accuracy of the claim.