RJ May, a Republican member of the South Carolina House, has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of distributing sexual abuse material involving children.
Prosecutors allege that May, who has been a state representative for three terms, used the screen name “joebidennnn69” to exchange 220 files that depict toddlers and young children in sexual acts on the Kik social media platform.
The investigation, which led to his arrest at his home in Lexington County, revealed that this activity occurred over a span of about five days in spring 2024.
After his arrest, a federal judge ordered May to remain in custody until his trial, suggesting that each charge could carry a prison sentence of five to 20 years upon conviction.
Prosecutors indicated that May could face over a decade in prison if found guilty.
The files in question were reportedly uploaded and downloaded using May’s home Wi-Fi network and his cellphone, with some files being traced directly back to his internet addresses, while others were concealed through the use of a private network.
In response to the allegations, May’s attorney, Dayne Phillips, argued that it was possible someone else could have accessed the Wi-Fi and used the password displayed on a board behind a photo shared by May’s wife.
During the arraignment, Phillips also claimed that a direct link between the Kik messages and May had not been conclusively established by investigators.
Prosecutors requested that May be denied bail, citing concerns over his living situation with his wife and young children.
They pointed out that some of the files allegedly shared by May feature children of similar ages to his own.
Further investigations into May’s activities revealed troubling evidence beyond the immediate charges.
Prosecutors also examined whether May had traveled to Colombia using a fictitious name, where he allegedly engaged in sexual acts with three women in videos found on his laptop.
A Homeland Security agent testified that the women appeared to be underage and were compensated for their involvement in the videos, although U.S. agents have been unable to locate them.
The investigation into May’s online behavior uncovered that he created a Facebook account under a false identity and frequently switched between that account and his legitimate profile, even conducting searches for his primary political opponent under the pseudonym.
Phillips maintained that no sexual images of toddlers or young children were directly found on May’s laptop or cellphone, attempting to undermine the prosecution’s claims.
After spending a night in the Lexington County jail, May appeared in court on Thursday, dressed in casual clothing, with his wrists and ankles restrained in cuffs.
As the court session concluded, he reportedly blew a kiss to his wife, who was present in the courtroom.
May’s political career includes significant milestones, such as his role in creating the Freedom Caucus, a faction of the most conservative members of the House who argue that mainstream Republicans do not represent the true values of the party.
He has also been involved in supporting other Republican candidates against GOP incumbents.
In January 2024, May expressed his commitment to safeguarding children during a House debate on transgender care for minors, stating, “We as legislators have an obligation to ensure that our children have no harm done to them.”
His son made a memorable appearance in April 2021 during a House visit, charming colleagues at the age of three as he practiced his parade wave around the chamber.
In light of the allegations, the Freedom Caucus announced on Wednesday night that May had been expelled from their group following his arrest.
As rumors of the investigation circulated within the Statehouse, many of May’s former allies began to distance themselves from him, and during the previous House session, he was frequently seen sitting at his corner desk with few colleagues beside him.
After the indictment, House Speaker suspended May from his legislative seat, marking a significant decline in his political stature.
His attorney projected the possibility of a defense based on the idea of being framed, raising the question of political enemies.
An agent from Homeland Security acknowledged in court that there are indeed individuals who may not support May’s political ambitions.
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