A federal judge on Thursday said she will allow former South Carolina Rep. RJ May to represent himself at his upcoming trial in his federal child sex abuse material case.
Federal Judge Cameron Currie told May he can have his two public defenders Jenny Smith and Jeremy Thompson on standby, but stressed they will have a very limited role.
This is a "very serious decision," Currie told May, dressed in the white and orange striped Edgefield County Detention Center jumpsuit, before she granted May's request. "You are giving up some very significant rights."
The unusual move by May, who is not a lawyer, means he will be in charge of preparing and filing his own motions, making his own opening and closing statements and cross-examining witnesses on his own. He also wouldn't have his own attorneys to question him should he decide to take the stand and testify.
Smith and Thompson also can't visit May in jail, unless instructed by the court.
May told Currie his decision to boot his lawyers was due to an impasse over a "motion to suppress" certain evidence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews told Currie there are seven total warrants.
May is only moving to suppress the residential search warrant.
"The court believes (you're) competent to represent yourself," Currie told May at his Thursday hearing that lasted under an hour.
Currie indicated Thursday that May's trial will move ahead as normal at Columbia's federal courthouse.
Jury selection is expected to start Oct. 8, with the trial beginning the day after.
Matthews told Currie he expects the government to call eight witnesses.
He said he would anticipate the trial stretching at least six days.
May faces 10 counts of distribution of child sex abuse material.
He is accused of using the screen name “joebidennnn69” to exchange more than 200 different files of children involved in sexual acts through the messaging app Kik in a nearly weeklong stretch back in 2024.
Federal prosecutors said May uploaded the documents using his home Wi-Fi connection and cellphone. May's former attorney suggested at his June arraignment hearing that someone could have used his Wi-Fi network after his wife posted a photo online that showed the account's password.
The attorney said May has many "political enemies."
May, a 38-year-old married father to two children under age 10, was first elected to the S.C. House in 2020 and last won reelection in 2024.
May resigned his House seat last month, saying the decision was "in the best interests of my family and constituents."
The former lawmaker ran a Republican political consulting firm and helped launch the hardline House Freedom Caucus, previously serving as the group's vice chair.
The special election for the Republican-leaning District 88 seat is scheduled for Dec. 23.
The primary will be held Oct. 21, and, if necessary, the runoff will be Nov. 4.
