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Federal agents conducting an ongoing investigation involving a sitting member of the South Carolina General Assembly are probing allegations related to “child exploitation” – specifically allegations tied to child sex abuse materials (or “CSAM”), more commonly known as child pornography.
These allegations – confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the status of the investigation – served as the basis for a search warrant executed yesterday at the home of second-term S.C. state representative RJ May III of West Columbia, S.C.
As our media outlet exclusively reported, agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) special investigations unit (HSI) – with support from the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) – executed a search warrant on May’s home early Monday morning (August 5, 2024).
Unspecified files and electronic devices were reportedly seized in connection with the raid, sources familiar with its execution confirmed. At least one witness is reportedly cooperating with the investigation, we are told. And while the probable cause affidavit which led to the issuance of the search warrant has yet to be released, sources familiar with the document say there was more than enough information provided to lawfully obtain it.
“It was not a close call,” a source who viewed the document confirmed to this outlet.
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HSI – which is the lead agency on the investigation – bills itself as “a global leader in the fight against child exploitation.”
“We use our investigative expertise, advanced technology, domestic and international partnerships, and the power of education to identify and rescue victims, apprehend offenders, and foster a safer digital environment for our youth,” the agency’s homepage noted. “HSI operates heavily in the digital world, disrupting the flow of CSAM, stopping livestream video showing child abuse, identifying victims, and dismantling child predator networks all over the world.”
While our sources addressed the nature of the investigation which has apparently ensnared May, they have not specified whether the federal probe is focused on the alleged production or dissemination of child pornography – or its possession. Obviously, state and federal law cover a host of varying degrees of child exploitation.
Our sources declined to elaborate on the nature of the materials seized or any potential charges which could be associated with those materials. As of this writing, May is not in custody and no warrants for his arrest have been issued, per our sources – although that could change “on a dime.”
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May has not responded to multiple requests for comment from this media outlet. He has, however, reportedly addressed the rumors swirling around him in conversations with members of the S.C. Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers he helped lead over the past two years. According to two members of the organization, May described the search at his home as being related to a potential firearm charge – and implored them to “blast the deep state” in responding to questions about it.
Sources close to the investigation explicitly rejected the suggestion of a potential firearm charge being a focus of the investigation.
To be clear: May has not been charged in connection with any crime. Assuming he were eventually to be charged, he would be entitled to due process – which includes the presumption of innocence.
May and his legislative allies have been riding high in recent weeks after dealing the Palmetto State’s ruling uniparty a surprising setback during this spring’s primary elections. In addition to his work in the legislature, May is the president of Ivory Tusk Consulting, a South Carolina-based political consulting firm which advises multiple Freedom Caucus members.
Stay with FITSNews as we learn more about this developing situation…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the owner and founding editor of FITSNews. Prior to founding his own news outlet, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina, bass guitarist in an alternative rock band and bouncer at a Columbia, S.C. dive bar. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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27 comments
Child exploitation. Called it.
These Freedom Caucus/MAGA zealots are bad for our communities and bad for South Carolina. If Freedom Caucus doesn’t expel his ass before the day’s out, that tells you all you need to know about their “family values.”
Many FC members, are tied to religious organizations that have ties with many serial, sexual abusers and predators.
The Entire Freedom Caucus should be investigated including those they support and endorse. They support rape, incest even when it involves children. They consider women as property. There is probably many more than May to investigate. I am sure this is the tip of the Iceberg and it would not be Homeland Security investigating his gun charges but ATF but maybe they should look there too.
Child exploitation is reprehensible. No one is above the law. Sadly, the victims are children and their families. There should be a full investigation into his entire network of friends and associates. No ring exploiting children should have air to breathe. How deep does this go? Protect the children of SC.
J Dumb 1 and 2: Ever hear “innocent until PROVEN guilty”? Of course not – because idiots such as yourselves reject such “notions”. To the rest – do not believe a single thing coming from HSI. This is the same Gestapo that raids the homes of people accused of praying outside of abortion clinics – and the like. Oh yeah, the same HSI to which the “crack” team of agents, also known as the Secret Service, almost cost Donald Trump his life. This most likely is a political hit job on a conservative. Who ever heard of such a thing?!
Yes!
RJ May helped get a restoration of Second Amendment rights that many in SC Law Enforcement hierarchy did not want. Could this be LE’s way of sending a message to Legislators to play their game or else? Law Enforcement used to love telling people, “We don’t make the law, we just enforce it.” In recent years, LE has increasingly tried exerting it’s influence to make and shape the laws. Planting evidence is not an unheard of tactic.
I hope Mr May is exonerated in this matter.
Google Republican and child sex abuse.
You will get a list of links to news stories, pages and pages long.
Type searching church, pastor, youth minister, etc and child sex abuse.
You’ll get thousands upon thousands of links.
Google Democrats and you will find the same thing, including murder and stolen elections from school boards to the white house, I think if your guilty then your guilty, no matter which side of the politics your on!!
LOL…you’re
Terminator44, how sad are you? You don’t send a team of Homeland Security Agents to Seize Materials, Computers and files from someone’s home unless you have something. You are either May or one in his Freedom Circle defending him. Anyone who defends a child abuser which a child pornographer is, is as guilty as they are. But you sound maybe like that Lefemme guy but he is supposed to be in jail for 60 days? The truth will come out and all will be revealed. So Terminator44 if you are involved they already know, so go ahead and turn yourself in and take your punishment. If the parents of a child that has been caught up in this finds you first the outcome could be worse than law enforcement although prisoners don’t think much of child abusers either.
Could be a setup…
Yes!
Your eyes are swollen shut
Definitely could!
Bongino Rule in effect. Stand fast, don’t get ahead of your skis, and let’s see where this goes. On one hand, this could be legit a major scandal. But on the other hand, I do seem to recall a certain Duke University that had to cough up millions to its lacross team when they were all falsely accused of gang raping a black stripper at a frat party, then ran out of the school and put through about 3 +years of hell…and a certain Democrat prosecutor called Nifong got disbarred for what he did to those young men. But it could cut either way.
Innocent Until Proof, Unfortunately Sex Offenders are in Churches, Daycare, Schools and Politics,We live in a Sick Society ,If RJ is Guilty then Punish Him,I have NO SYMPATHY FOR CHILD ABUSERS!!!If RJ Is INNOCENT SOMEONE OWED HIM A APOLOGY!!
Right on!
I like Shealy’s response. I’m sick and tired of the lame “witch-hunt” cry whenever a far-right leader gets into trouble. I also believe in “innocent until proven guilty,” but…where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.
I love the cry of innocent until proven guilty when we all know Republicans will never accept any proof when it comes to a Republican. Donald Trump has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of multiple felonies, and still, Republicans say he is not guilty It’s all rigged. Republicans have no respect for women, children, or the law. They have no values.
It is impossible to have moral values and support a man who has five children by three wives, all of whom he cheated on, who bragged about molesting women, and who has been proven to have sexually assaulted at least one woman. No Christian values here only duped sheep.
Shealy . . . STFU! Ask Mark Houck about the FBI raiding his house. Oh yeah, he was found NOT GUILTY after a trial by his peers. Which refutes your idiotic notion that “the Feds do not raid unless they have something”. And you are incorrect. I am not May and have never met the person. Be VERY careful about to whom you are leveling accusations!!
Terminator: I don’t know a soul on here, but I have to say I’m having a hard time understanding just how one could level accusations against an anonymous poster. I’m using my real name, btw…. Not understanding your BIG warning!
Whether Rep. RJ May may be innocent or may be guilty, it may be wise to consider the 2019 Horry County case of Harold Worley, Jr.
Harold Worley, Jr., namesake of his father, Harold Worley, Sr. (former Horry County Council member) was criminally charged with sexual abuse of a minor. These charges were based SOLELY on allegations made by his ex-wife in Family Court (an ex-wife who subsequently married and had a baby with SC Lt. Governor Andre Bauer tout suite).
After Worley, Jr. was threatened with LIFE IN PRISON, and reportedly spent more than $400,000 in legal fees on his defense, he was found NOT GUILTY on all counts by a jury of his peers.
After reading the charges and the evidence against Worley, Jr., it appears the only thing he may have been guilty of was acting on a sophomoric sense of humor and instigating ridiculous horseplay with his young sons.
Worley Jr. was dragged through the mud, forced to spend nearly half a million dollars in legal fees, lost time with his children, and all was based on the main allegation which included horseplay involving brown play doh formed into the shape of a “turd.”
I call attention to the Worley case to point out that the idea government officials would never waste time and other resources on a false prosecution may not be the case.
If the allegations against RJ May have merit, I hope the feds throw the book at him. I not… how may anyone undo such irrevocable harm to the reputation of an innocent man?
I assume all of you commenting here crowing about “innocent until proven guilty” take that position towards EVERY SINGLE accused person? This is a pretty serious allegation, maybe the most serious. So I would assume you all take that position for every other crime? Not just when one of your people gets arrested? So all the way up to a guilty verdict each of you is questioning law enforcement and prosecutors and refusing to believe in guilt?
In case the sarcasm is lost on you, I highly doubt this is the case.
Josh, most of us DO believe in innocent until proven guilty, unless that person has a criminal history, then I tend to be skeptical. These articles insinuate he is being investigated for multiple crimes when in fact he is not. No evidence, no arrest even after a warrant for search and seizure was executed. This is looking like quite a political hatchet job already. Child pornography and treasonous behavior are heinous crimes against humanity and I wouldn’t be slinging those terms around lightly if I were the news outlets. You cant take it back after you put it out there, and his political and personal reputation is forever damaged by those that don’t know him. I, personally do not believe not one word of it! it will take a whole LOT more than a smear campaign to convince me otherwise.
No. Most of you don’t believe in innocent until proven guilty. Your comment reveals exactly how you feel. I bet you pick and choose the criminal history you take to heart. I bet certain convicted felons are doomed on your eyes, but I would make the same bet you give a free pass to other convicted felons.
What makes this look like a “political hatchet job”? Do you know anything about the investigation? Do you know how the Feds got there? Do you know what made them search his house?
RJ May is a dipshit and has stupid political positions that I am sure are far more related to his self interest than any actual belief in governing for the citizens. That being said, I hope he didn’t commit this crime and it’s all a misunderstanding. I just know for a fact that most of the people here would never read an article about a typical accused citizen and do anything other than grab a pitchfork and head out to the lynching. And that’s a shame.
Someone should give him due process by going to his house off platt springs rd and feeding him something metallic.