Former SC State Rep. RJ May to represent himself in trial

COLUMBIA — Former state Rep. RJ May will act as his own lawyer in his federal court trial where he faces 10 counts of distributing child sex abuse material.

May made the decision to represent himself during a status hearing Sept. 4. He had been with his assigned federal public defender, Jenny Smith, and co-counsel, Jeremy Thompson, when he made his decision to cut them loose.

It remains largely unclear why May chose to represent himself. The court went into a closed session where only the prosecution, defense, the judge and court staff were allowed in the room for about 10 minutes.

When the judge allowed the public back into the courtroom and asked May on the record why he was choosing to go alone, May referred to the private discussion without details. He stated there was an “impasse”