Fact-check analysisVerified as of August 13, 2025Curated by FactVerify
True

South Carolina Rep. RJ May (R) charged with distributing child sexual abuse material.

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

Republican in South Carolina arrested over distribution of child sexual abuse material - South Carolina | The Guardian

Republican in South Carolina arrested over distribution of child sexual abuse material - South Carolina | The Guardian

Source: theguardian.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 13, 2025
The reporting

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.

Primary trail

Verified Sources7

Republican SC Rep. RJ May charged with distributing child sex abuse material

southcarolinapublicradio.org
Open source

South Carolina state Rep RJ May accused of distributing child sexual abuse...

the-independent.com
Open source

SC representative charged with distributing child sexual abuse material • SC...

scdailygazette.com
Open source
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