Fact check: Factcheck South Carolina Republican arrested for exchanging 220 files of toddlers and young children involved in sexual abuse acts

1. Summary of the results

The statement is factually accurate based on multiple credible sources. Robert John May III (RJ May), a Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, was arrested and indicted on 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}.

Prosecutors allege that May used the screen name "joebidennnn69" to exchange 220 files depicting toddlers and young children involved in sexual abuse acts ^{[1] [3]}. The charges were filed in June 2025, with multiple news outlets including the Associated Press and local South Carolina media confirming the arrest and indictment ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

The U.S. Department of Justice also confirmed the indictment of the West Columbia man for distributing child sexual abuse material ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks important contextual information about South Carolina's broader efforts to combat child sexual exploitation. The state has been actively working on legislation to strengthen laws against such crimes, including:

• Recent legislative efforts to criminalize the creation and distribution of AI-generated sexual images without consent ^[5]
• New tools for law enforcement, including legislation allowing the state Attorney General's Office to subpoena websites and internet providers to locate suspected offenders ^[6]

The timing of this arrest coincides with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson's push for stronger anti-exploitation measures, suggesting this case may be part of a broader crackdown on child sexual abuse material ^{[5] [6]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains no apparent misinformation - it accurately reflects the charges and circumstances as reported by credible news sources. However, the statement could be seen as politically charged given:

• The emphasis on the suspect's Republican party affiliation in the headline, which while factually accurate, may be intended to generate political controversy
• The detailed description of the alleged crimes may be designed to maximize emotional impact rather than simply convey factual information

It's worth noting that false claims about pedophilia have been weaponized in political contexts, with some Republicans historically using such accusations to attack Democrats and LGBTQ individuals ^[7]. However, in this case, the charges appear to be legitimate criminal proceedings rather than politically motivated accusations.