COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Representative Robert John May III, 38, has been arrested and charged in connection to a child sexual abuse material investigation.
According to the Department of Justice, a federal grand jury in Greenville returned a 10-count indictment against May.
According to court records, in April 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip from the messaging app Kik.
The app had flagged several videos shared by the user “joebidennnn69” for containing child sexual abuse.
Officials say investigators traced the account to the home IP address and phone of May and found at least 10 child sexual abuse videos shared from that account.
May faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison with a minimum of five years, a fine of $250,000, and at least five years of supervised release after.
He has also been suspended from the South Carolina House of Representatives:
Below you will find May's Indictment, Motion for Detention, and Warrant:
South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain issued a statement on the arrest and indictment of Rep May. That statement says:
“Wednesday’s arrest and now federal indictment of State Representative R.J. May, a founding member of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus and a rising star in Republican politics, is alarming. May was charged today with 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material.
While Speaker Murrell Smith is required to suspend any state representative indicted for certain crimes immediately, lawmakers are only forced to lose their seats upon conviction.
But this moment is about more than one man. It’s about a culture. A Republican political machine that propped up R.J. May, promoted him, and protected him. The people of South Carolina deserve answers:
Where does Governor McMaster stand now, after years of aligning himself with R.J. May?
Will Congresswoman Nancy Mace speak up against one of her own and for the victims of child sexual exploitation?
What did Lt. Governor Pamela Evette know? And when did she know it?
And why didn’t Attorney General Alan Wilson, the state’s top law enforcement officer and son of Congressman Joe Wilson, uncover this?
South Carolinians deserve leaders who uphold justice, not shield predators. They deserve accountability, not silence. And they deserve a government that puts the safety of children above the ambitions of extremists.
South Carolina Republican leaders have a choice to make. Will they finally put the people of this state first, or will they once again circle the wagons to protect one of their own?
We’ll be watching. And we won’t forget.”
House Representative Jordan Pace on Wednesday evening called for the resignation of House Rep. RJ May following the Lexington County Republican's arrest.
Pace, the chairman of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, which is a caucus May co-founded, issued a statement about the arrest.
"The South Carolina Freedom Caucus stands firmly for the rule of law and protection of children. Representative RJ May has been expelled from our caucus. He has not been involved in the operations of the caucus since August of 2024. We call for his immediate resignation from the House."
"Although formal charges have not been made public yet, all indications are that these indictments will be for child sex abuse materials. These crimes are heinous, and we expect that they will be fully investigated."
May has been under the microscope since last year when authorities searched his home and seized a number of electronic devices. However, details of the case remain very limited.
This is a developing story, and WACH will have more information when it becomes available.
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