South Carolina Republican congressman Robert John May will stay behind bars while he awaits trial on federal charges for distributing child sexual abuse material under the online name “joebidennnn69.”
At a federal hearing Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Shiva Hodges denied May’s request for bail, saying the evidence is “significant” and that May could pose a risk to himself, his two young children, and the public.
The 38-year-old lawmaker appeared in court wearing shackles and pleaded not guilty. But prosecutors say the digital trail leading to his West Columbia home is clear.
Graphic Evidence Uncovered
Federal agents arrested May on Wednesday — nearly a year after raiding his house in August 2024. They seized phones, hard drives, a CD, and USB devices.
Prosecutors say May used the Kik app to exchange child sexual abuse videos under the usernames “joebidennnn69” and “Eric Rentling.” Court records say he shared 220 unique child pornography videos nearly 480 times in just five days.
“He was sending and receiving messages about trading child pornography,” prosecutor Scott Matthews told the court. “These were not one-off incidents.”
May’s phone, traced through a Verizon account and his home Wi-Fi, accessed the Kik app almost 960 times. Investigators also found he used a VPN and deleted encrypted apps like Telegram around the same time.
According to Homeland Security Special Agent Britton Lorenzen, “All of the apps were deleted within seconds of each other.”
Online Alias Linked to Paid Sex in Colombia
Court filings say May also used a Facebook account under the alias “Eric Rentling” to communicate with young women in Medellín, Colombia — a city described in documents as “well known for sex work.”
Between April 2023 and July 2024, the account had over 40 conversations, allegedly to arrange paid sex. A photo on the Facebook account appears to show the back of May’s head and hands.
Prosecutors say some Kik messages were sent while May was multitasking — on the phone with his wife, reviewing Statehouse legislation, or even texting friends holiday greetings. “He sent a ‘Happy Easter’ message while actively engaged in this behavior,” said Lorenzen.
May’s lawyer, Dayne Phillips, argued someone else could’ve accessed the Kik account through May’s Wi-Fi. He claimed May’s wife had once posted a photo online showing the password. “He has political enemies,” Phillips said.
Phillips also pointed out that no child sexual abuse images were found on May’s laptop or phone.
Still, prosecutors insist the evidence is overwhelming. If convicted, May faces 5 to 20 years per count, up to a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.
House Speaker Murrell Smith suspended May from office without pay, as required by state law. The House Freedom Caucus — which May helped launch — has since called for his resignation.
May has refused to speak about the charges, only telling reporters: “The people of District 88 elected me to do a job, and that’s what I’m here to do.”
But during the most recent legislative session, May kept a low profile. He showed up, voted, and stayed mostly silent — never filing a single bill.
Before his arrest, May was a rising figure in South Carolina politics. A longtime GOP consultant and founder of Ivory Tusk Consulting, he was elected in 2020 and became a driving force behind the state’s House Freedom Caucus.
Now, instead of shaping policy, he’s facing a grim federal trial and the collapse of his political career.
May remains in federal custody. His trial date has not been set.
