A Republican lawmaker in South Carolina, who once emphasized the need to safeguard children from harm, has been accused of sharing over 200 files of child pornography online under the username “joebidennnn69.”
Representative Robert “RJ” May was taken into custody on Wednesday at his Lexington County home, facing charges related to distributing child sexual abuse materials, as detailed in a 10-count indictment.
The two married fathers allegedly used “joebidennnn69” along with other usernames to share 220 graphic files depicting children and toddlers in sexual situations through the Kik messaging app for five days last spring.
Authorities say May downloaded these disturbing files using his home Wi-Fi and mobile phone.
In his defense, May’s lawyer suggested that someone may have used his Wi-Fi password to download and share the inappropriate content.
An investigation was initiated when the social media platform notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in April 2024.
Homeland Security agents executed a search at May’s home in August 2024, seizing around three dozen electronic devices, including laptops, tablets, four smartphones, four hard drives, and 19 flash drives.
It’s possible that one of the seized devices contained personal videos from a trip they took to Colombia.
Prosecutors expressed concern over May’s two children, arguing that they might not be safe to release on bail given their ages, which align with those depicted in the illegal materials.
May, who was first elected in 2020, had established the Freedom Caucus in the State House, aligning himself with a more hardline conservative faction.
Following his arrest, the House Freedom Caucus expelled him, and calls have emerged for his resignation.
He had previously presented himself as an advocate for conservative values, including child protection. In January 2024, during a discussion about transgender care for minors, he stated the responsibility of legislators to protect children, mere months after federal authorities raided his home.
May has been ordered to remain in custody until his trial, facing potential sentences ranging from five to 20 years for each charge.
