South Carolina Rep. May faces federal charges for child sexual abuse content
South Carolina State Representative Indicted on Federal Charges for Child Sexual Abuse Material
A shocking development has emerged from South Carolina as State Representative Robert John “RJ” May III, a co-founder of the Freedom Caucus, has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly distributing child sexual abuse material. The indictment, consisting of 10 counts, was returned by a federal grand jury in Greenville, South Carolina, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
The disturbing case came to light in April 2024 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber-tip from the social messaging app Kik. The tip flagged several videos associated with the username “joebidennnn69” that contained explicit material involving children, according to court documents.
Investigations led authorities to connect the Biden-themed account to May’s West Columbia home IP address and mobile device. Subsequently, at least 10 videos depicting child sexual abuse were found to have been shared from the account, leading to May’s arrest at his residence.
Facing serious federal charges, May could potentially receive a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, with a minimum of five years, along with a hefty fine of $250,000 and a mandatory term of supervised release. As a father of two young children, May’s alleged involvement in such reprehensible activities has sent shockwaves through the community.
In response to the indictment, the S.C. Freedom Caucus, where May once held the position of vice chair, has called for his resignation from the House. The caucus emphasized its commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting children, expressing deep concern over the nature of the accusations.
Despite his previous involvement in the caucus, May had been expelled from the group in August 2024 and had not been part of its operations since then. The group issued a statement condemning the alleged crimes and expressing hope that justice would prevail in the investigation.
The case was thoroughly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. It is essential to note that all charges in the indictment are considered accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
As this distressing situation unfolds, May’s legal representative, Dayne Phillips, is yet to provide a comment on behalf of his client. The gravity of the charges and the impact on the community underscore the importance of swift and thorough legal proceedings to ensure justice is served.
In conclusion, the disturbing allegations against State Representative Robert John May III have raised serious concerns about the protection of children and the responsibilities of public officials. It remains to be seen how this case will progress and what implications it may have on the political landscape in South Carolina.
