COLUMBIA — Former state Rep. RJ May has requested his federal trial on distributing 10 counts of child sexual abuse material be moved out of the state capital to another venue.

The founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus has filed several motions to suppress evidence as he is acting as his own lawyer from where he is being held inside the Edgefield County Detention Center.

He wants the trial shifted from Columbia due to media coverage, and also wants some evidence collected by federal officers tossed out from when his home was raided in August 2024.

A suggested new venue site was not included in his request. There are multiple federal courthouses in cities around the state.

May claims it is impossible for him to receive a fair trial in Columbia because of the “quantity” and “p

See Full Page