In Columbia, South Carolina, legal troubles have surfaced for a Republican member of the state House following serious accusations. The lawmaker, RJ May, was apprehended at his Lexington County residence and is facing 10 charges related to distributing material involving the sexual abuse of children. These charges emerged after a rigorous investigation concluded, leading to a federal judge’s decision to hold May without bail until his trial date.
Allegations against May include that he utilized the screen name “joebidennnn69” to partake in the exchange of over 220 separate files, which involved explicit content featuring toddlers and young children. This activity reportedly took place on the Kik social media platform over a five-day period in spring 2024, as documented in court filings that described the videos in graphic detail. If convicted, each charge carries a potential prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years, with prosecutors suggesting the total sentence could exceed a decade.
According to prosecutors, these unlawful exchanges were traced back to May’s home Wi-Fi network and cell phone. Although efforts were made to obscure some activity via a private network, links were established through direct connections to his internet addresses.
However, during an arraignment hearing, May’s defense attorney proposed that someone else might have accessed his Wi-Fi network, implicating a photo posted by May’s wife, which displayed the password. The attorney argued that investigators failed to definitively link each Kik interaction to May himself.
Prosecutors opposed bail for May, given the circumstances under which he lives with his young family, emphasizing that some of the materials allegedly shared involve children who are of a similar age to his own children. Additionally, May is under scrutiny for purportedly traveling to Colombia under a false identity, where prosecutors suspect he engaged in paid sexual activities with women, believed to be minors, based on videos found on his laptop. Efforts to locate these women have been unsuccessful.
Evidence presented included a fake Facebook account May allegedly used, switching between it and his personal account. His defense lawyer countered by pointing out that no explicit images were found directly on May’s personal devices.
After spending a night in jail, May appeared in court dressed casually, restrained by handcuffs. At the hearing, he acknowledged his wife with a gesture of affection before being remanded to continued custody.
May’s political journey began with his election in 2020, where he notably played a role in establishing the Freedom Caucus, a faction critical of mainstream Republicans and advocating more conservative ideals. His political influence waned following the arrest, leading to his expulsion from the Caucus and increasing isolation among legislative peers. The House Speaker subsequently suspended him from his legislative role.
In his defense, May’s attorney insinuated potential motivations for May to have been framed, citing political adversaries. However, Department of Homeland Security agent Britton Lorenzen, testifying in the hearing, dismissed personal grievances as a plausible theory for May’s legal predicament.