South Carolina Legislator Arrested on Child Pornography Charges
Columbia, SC — Robert John “RJ” May III, a South Carolina state representative and founding member of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material. His arrest marks a shocking development for both his constituents and the broader political landscape in the state.
Court Appearance and Charges
May appeared in federal court on Thursday, where he entered a not guilty plea. Following the arraignment, he was ordered held without bond due to the serious nature of the charges. According to a federal grand jury indictment, May used the usernames “joebidennnn69” and “Eric Rentling” to distribute child pornography via the Kik messaging app in April 2024.
Investigators reported that Kik had flagged several videos from the “joebidennnn69” account as containing child sexual abuse material, which were subsequently reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Authorities traced the account to May’s home IP address and a specific mobile device registered to him.
Disturbing Evidence
The evidence against May is harrowing. Investigators revealed that the “joebidennnn69” account, created on March 30, 2024, was deleted just five days later after sending over 1,100 messages, most of which contained explicit content. The court identified at least 220 distinct videos and images of child sexual abuse material associated with the account.
Testimony from Britton Lorenzen, a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security, highlighted that many videos depicted very young children, including infants and toddlers, and some involved violent acts. The court also noted alarming evidence of May sharing child pornography while simultaneously conducting calls for legislative purposes.
Response from the Freedom Caucus
In a swift response, the Freedom Caucus suspended May’s membership and called for his resignation. "These crimes are heinous, and we expect that they will be fully investigated," the caucus stated in a public release.
Potential Sentencing
If convicted, May faces severe penalties, including a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, a minimum of five years, and a potential fine of $250,000. Additionally, the court expressed concerns regarding May’s young children, both under the age of 10, highlighting risks not only to them but to the larger community.
As this disturbing case unfolds, further developments are expected, with the possibility of additional legal challenges or evidence surfacing.
Updates on this story will be provided as new information comes to light.
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