South Carolina state lawmaker RJ May facing 10 counts of federal child sex abuse material charges will stay in jail

essentialsaltes said:

Rep. RJ May, R – Lexington, is charged with 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material. Those charges carry a maximum 20-year prison sentence, with a minimum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, the social messaging app Kik alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in April 2024 of several videos containing child sex abuse from an account with the username “joebidennnn69.” Investigators found at least 10 of those videos had been shared from that account and connected it with May’s mobile device and home IP address.

He is a founding member of the hardline conservative South Carolina Freedom Caucus, which has been part of the effort to push the Republican Party in South Carolina further to the right.

May was also suspended from his role in the South Carolina House of Representatives on Thursday via a letter penned by South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith.

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essentialsaltes said:

The Eighth Amendment probably precludes that option. Even Scalia wasn't (at one point) willing to go to that length of originalism even though flogging was used in the 18th century. But later, he got tougher.

You’ve described yourself as a fainthearted originalist. But really, how fainthearted?

I described myself as that a long time ago. I repudiate that.

So you’re a stouthearted one.

I try to be. I try to be an honest originalist! I will take the bitter with the sweet! What I used “fainthearted” in reference to was—

Flogging, right?

Flogging. And what I would say now is, yes, if a state enacted a law permitting flogging, it is immensely stupid, but it is not unconstitutional. A lot of stuff that’s stupid is not unconstitutional.

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Oompa Loompa said:

So flog him with a tube sock full of 3 inch wood screws.

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NxNW said:

Sadly, I think that qualifies as cruel and unusual.

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essentialsaltes said:

RJ May resigns from SC House of Representatives following child pornography charges​

May was a founding member of the conservative SC Freedom Caucus

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Hentenza said:

Is the rest of the conservative SC Freedom Caucus also on pornography charges?

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