A South Carolina House panel has started its formal investigation into a complaint made against a sitting legislator, an inquiry that could lead to that lawmaker's expulsion.
The House Ethics Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to retain outside attorneys after the group deemed it had enough information to warrant an investigation into allegations of conduct unbecoming of a member and misuse of office.
House Ethics Chairman Jay Jordan said House rules prohibit him from disclosing which legislator is the subject of the complaint, and who filed the request.
But, last month, House GOP Leader Davey Hiott shared publicly that he had filed a complaint with the House Ethics Committee, calling for the expulsion of Lexington Republican Rep. RJ May.
The Pickens Republican asked the committee to investigate May and his "business dealings" with other House members.
May, 38, was a cofounder of the hardline House Freedom Caucus. He ran a political consulting firm, Ivory Tusk Consulting.
May was indicted last month by a federal grand jury on 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material via a social messaging app.
By state law, May was suspended from the House.
He is being held in the Edgefield County jail pending trial.
"My desire will be for an expedient review and an expedient return to the committee for the committee to then determine what actions are necessary," Jordan, R-Florence, told reporters.
The committee's vote also gives Jordan, as chair, the authority to issue and sign subpoenas, should they be necessary.
And the act of hiring outside counsel by a committee or the Legislature is not rare, Jordan said, noting he used outside attorneys when he chaired the House's redistricting committee.
As far as the lawyers, Jordan said he's looking for attorneys who can "thoroughly review and act quickly to respond."
It was not immediately clear when the last time a sitting House member was expelled from office.
No one has been expelled in at least the last 30 years.
It is, however, rare that a sitting legislator is investigated by the House Ethics Committee for complaints outside of campaign finance activities.
The state Constitution gives each chamber the ability to decide its own rules to expel a member. A two-thirds vote by the chamber is required to expel.
May still has the option to resign his District 88 seat, which he has represented since his first election in 2020.
Jordan said he could not answer what could happen to the House Ethics Committee's investigation should he do so.
Federal court filings show May's next hearing is set for Aug. 20, with jury selection to follow Sept. 10. That schedule could change, particularly if there's a plea deal.
"We haven't expelled anyone in a very long time. But my goal and the committee's goal is that we review everything that comes before us thoroughly and completely," Jordan said. "Just because it deals with one particular action, doesn't mean we're not setting precedent for what may occur into the future for a future Ethics Committee, a future House. To do this right and to do it thoroughly is incumbent upon us."
Jordan said he expects the investigation to be done by this year.
