Senator Tedder is being investigated for a two-year-old sexual abuse case

CHARLESTON COUNTY, SC (WCIV) — The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is currently investigating two-year-old sexual abuse allegations against Democratic Sen. Deon Tedder, according to documents obtained by News 4.

The incident report provided by Columbia police is heavily redacted, but it lists the counts of second-degree sexual abuse, which means an “actor uses severe coercion to commit sexual assault,” according to the South Carolina Code of Criminal Procedure.

Acting on a tip on November 8, 2023, News 4 requested a police report from the FOIA office regarding an alleged sexual abuse investigation that occurred on April 27, 2022. It then received the redacted report on November 28, 2023.

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office confirmed to News 4 on Friday that Tedder was the suspect in the redacted November 2023 report. It is important to note that Tedder has not been charged with a crime.

According to the incident report, on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, a Columbia Police Department officer was dispatched to Shop Road in Columbia.

At the scene, police encountered a victim who stated that he had been “touched inappropriately through his clothing and later … (redacted).”

The report ends with the officer writing that the victim “did not consent to the sexual act.” The remaining three pages of the incident report are completely redacted.

When asked for details about the investigation into Tedder’s alleged crime, which has been ongoing for more than two years, Robert Kittle, communications director for the Attorney General’s Office, said: “It is the policy of our office to neither confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation.”

News 4 has contacted Tedder regarding the allegations and is awaiting a response. This story will be updated with his comment if News 4 receives a response.

Tedder is currently running for re-election in South Carolina’s 42nd Senate District, facing challenger Kim Greene in the primary.

Regarding the allegations, Greene said people have “a right to know the moral compass of their elected officials and candidates.”

“Although everyone is innocent until proven guilty, elected officials and candidates for public office have special obligations of complete transparency and honesty with voters,” she continued. “No one, and especially not those who hold or seek to hold the public trust, is above the law or entitled to more protection than victims of violent crime or to special protections or judicial courtesy not afforded to any other defendant.”

He first won the seat in a special election in November, ousting Republican newcomer Rosa Kay.

Before running for the State Senate, Tedder served as a representative for the 109th congressional district in the State House of Representatives.