Republican in South Carolina arrested over distribution of kid sexual abuse subject matter

A Republican member of South Carolina’s state area whom prosecutors say used the display screen identify “joebidennnn69” has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of distributing sexual abuse subject matter involving youngsters.

RJ May was once arrested at his Lexington county house after a long investigation and was once ordered on Thursday by way of a federal pass judgement on to stay jailed till his trial.

The three-term Republican is accused of the use of “joebidennnn69” to switch 220 recordsdata of tots and babies desirous about intercourse acts at the Kik social media community for roughly 5 days in spring 2024, consistent with court docket paperwork that graphically detailed the movies.

During that time frame, Joe Biden was once within the ultimate 12 months of his presidency ahead of May’s fellow Republican Donald Trump received the November 2024 election to go back to the White House in January.

Each fee towards May carries a five-to-20-year jail sentence upon conviction. Prosecutors instructed May may just spend greater than a decade in jail if discovered responsible.

The recordsdata on the middle of the case have been uploaded and downloaded the use of May’s house wifi community and his mobile phone, prosecutors stated. Some have been hidden by means of a non-public community, however others have been immediately related to his web addresses.

At his arraignment, May’s legal professional instructed any individual can have used the wifi password that was once proven on a board in the back of a photograph May’s spouse can have posted on-line. Attorney Dayne Phillips additionally instructed investigators didn’t hyperlink every Kik message immediately to May.

Prosecutors requested that May, 38, now not be given bail as a result of he lives at house together with his spouse and babies, and one of the crucial recordsdata he’s accused of sharing function youngsters of about the similar age as his.

Prosecutors stated in addition they investigated whether or not May had used a faux identify to go back and forth to Colombia 3 times after discovering movies on his pc of him allegedly having intercourse with 3 women or ladies. An agent from america Department of Homeland Security (DHS) testified the 3 looked to be underage and have been paid. Agents have now not been in a position to find the 3.

Prosecutors stated May created a Facebook account together with his faux identify, and his web historical past confirmed him switching between his actual account and the faux one – or even looking his number one opponent from the faux login.

Phillips, May’s legal professional, instructed the court docket that no sexual photographs of tots or babies have been discovered immediately on his pc or mobile phone.

After spending the night time in prison, May seemed in court docket on Thursday in shorts and a T-shirt together with his wrists and ankles in cuffs. After being ordered to stick in prison, he gave the impression to blow a kiss to his spouse, who was once on the listening to.

After May’s election in 2020, he helped create the Freedom caucus, a bunch of the home’s maximum conservative participants who say mainstream Republicans within the chamber aren’t the real conservative middle in their celebration. He additionally helped the campaigns of Republicans working towards the celebration’s area incumbents.

“We as legislators have an obligation to insure that our children have no harm done to them,” May stated in January 2024 at the area ground all over a debate on transgender deal with minors.

His son charmed the home in April 2021 when May introduced him to consult with for his 3rd birthday, and the boy practiced his parade wave across the chamber.

The Freedom caucus launched a observation on Wednesday night time announcing that they had kicked May out in their staff after his arrest.

Many of his one-time buddies distanced themselves from May as rumors of the investigation unfold in the course of the South Carolina statehouse. During the present consultation, he may just in large part be noticed at his nook table behind the 124-seat chamber, blending with only a few colleagues.

The area speaker suspended May from his seat after the indictment.

May’s legal professional instructed he can have been framed and requested the DHS agent if she knew that May had a large number of political enemies.

“There are a fair amount of people who don’t like me either, Mr Phillips,” agent Britton Lorenzen answered.