Anti–Gay “Protecting Children” Lawmaker Pleads Guilty To Sharing Child Abuse Material
South Carolina lawmaker RJ May, a man who built his career attacking trans people and drag queens under the banner of “protecting children”, has pleaded guilty to charges related to sharing child sexual abuse material.
South Carolina Rep. RJ May (R) has been charged with distributing sexual abuse material involving children.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) August 12, 2025
He allegedly used the screen name “joebidennnn69” to exchange 220 different files of toddlers and young children involved in sex acts. pic.twitter.com/qlleODwi6X
In a spectacular fall from grace, the politician who loudly condemned the LGBTQIA+ community now faces a possible 100-year prison sentence for his own crimes against children. The hypocrisy is staggering, but for many, it is not surprising.
He claimed he was protecting kids.
May constructed his political identity on a platform of so-called family values. He was a vocal opponent of the rights of transgender people, especially those seeking gender-affirming care. He argued that drag shows were a form of “child exploitation” and compared Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care to state support for drug addiction.
His public statements were designed to create fear and division. In a 2024 speech on the House floor, May declared, “We as legislators have an obligation to ensure that our children have no harm done to them.” His words now ring with a deeply sinister irony.
The plea deal exposed a sickening reality.
While May was delivering his speeches, he was engaged in horrifying criminal activity. This month, he admitted to using the social media app Kik to distribute 265 files of what is legally known as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Some of the images and videos featured children as young as seven.
According to prosecutors, May used the screen name “joebidennnn69” and travelled to Colombia on three occasions, where he allegedly filmed himself abusing underage girls. Faced with overwhelming evidence just weeks before his trial, May changed his plea to guilty. He now faces a century in prison, significant fines, and will be on the sex offender registry for life.
The loudest voices can hide the darkest secrets…
It has become painfully clear that the threat RJ May spoke of was not coming from drag queens or trans youth. The real harm came from him. The politician who railed against the supposed dangers of our communities was secretly living in a world where children were disposable objects for his satisfaction.
While he falsely painted others as a danger, his own actions were a devastating reality for his victims. May’s case is a brutal reminder that when certain figures obsessively point fingers, it might be worth asking what, exactly, they are trying to distract us from.
