A South Carolina lawmaker with a history of advocating for child protection has been arrested on disturbing charges involving the exploitation of minors. Republican Representative Robert "RJ" May now faces serious allegations that starkly contrast with his public persona.
According to the New York Post, federal prosecutors have charged May with distributing more than 200 files of child pornography online while using the screen name "joebidennnn69" and other usernames. The 38-year-old lawmaker was arrested Wednesday at his Lexington County home following a months-long investigation.
The three-term representative, who founded the House Freedom Caucus in South Carolina, allegedly shared 220 files containing graphic footage of children on the messaging app Kik over a five-day period last spring. Federal authorities claim the married father of two downloaded these files using his home Wi-Fi network and personal cellphone.
Homeland Security agents executed a search warrant at May's residence in August 2024, seizing nearly three dozen electronic devices, including laptops, cell phones, hard drives, and thumb drives. The raid came after Kik flagged suspicious activity to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in April 2024.
Prosecutors alleged that some files were hidden using a private network while others were directly linked to May's personal IP address. The Republican lawmaker's legal team has suggested someone else might have been using his WiFi password to download and share the illicit material.
A Department of Homeland Security official testified that investigators also discovered videos of May allegedly engaging in sex with what appeared to be underage women during trips to Colombia. These women were reportedly paid, adding another disturbing dimension to the case.
The House Freedom Caucus acted swiftly following May's arrest, expelling him from their ranks on Wednesday. Former allies are now calling for his resignation from the state legislature, where he has served since 2020.
May had positioned himself as a hardline conservative who championed family values and child protection. His arrest represents a stunning contradiction to his public statements, including remarks made earlier this year during a debate on transgender care for minors.
During that January 2024 debate, just months after federal agents had already searched his home, May stated: "We as legislators have an obligation to ensure that our children have no harm done to them." This statement now carries deeply troubling implications, given the charges against him.
A federal judge ordered May to remain in jail until his trial, denying bail partly because his own children are reportedly the same age as many of those who were exploited in the materials he allegedly distributed.
The 10-count indictment against May charges him with distributing child sex abuse material. Each count carries a potential sentence of five to 20 years in prison if he is convicted.
Prosecutors emphasized the severity of the allegations, noting the extremely graphic nature of the content involved. The material allegedly included footage of children and toddlers engaged in sex acts.
The arrest of Representative May has sent shockwaves through South Carolina's political landscape, particularly given his public stance on protecting children and family values. The alleged use of a username referencing President Biden adds a political dimension to an already disturbing case.
May's political career had been built on conservative principles as part of a movement that positioned itself to the right of many mainstream Republicans in the state. He was first elected in 2020 and had risen to prominence as the founder of the state's House Freedom Caucus.
The stark contrast between May's public advocacy and the allegations against him has left colleagues and constituents stunned. The case highlights the troubling reality that those who speak most forcefully about protecting children may sometimes be hiding their own exploitation of the vulnerable.
