Fact Check: "The Freedom Caucus released a statement on Wednesday night saying they had kicked May out of their group after his arrest."
What We Know
On Wednesday, June 12, 2025, Representative RJ May, a Republican member of the South Carolina House, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of distributing child sexual abuse material. Following his arrest, the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, which May co-founded, released a statement confirming that he had been expelled from their group. The statement emphasized their commitment to the rule of law and child protection, stating, "Representative RJ May has been expelled from our caucus" and called for his immediate resignation from the House (ABC News) [source-1].
May's arrest stemmed from an investigation that revealed he allegedly used the screen name "joebidennnn69" to share explicit materials involving minors on the Kik social media platform. The investigation was initiated after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged videos shared by this account (WSET) [source-4]. The charges against him carry severe penalties, including potential prison time of five to twenty years (ABC News) [source-2].
Analysis
The claim that the Freedom Caucus expelled RJ May following his arrest is corroborated by multiple reliable sources. ABC News reported that the Freedom Caucus released a statement on the same night of May's arrest, confirming his expulsion from the group (ABC News) [source-1]. Additionally, the statement from the caucus was reiterated by other news outlets, including WACH and WSET, which highlighted the seriousness of the allegations against May and the caucus's stance on child protection (WACH) [source-3][source-4].
The sources used in this analysis are credible and well-established news organizations, known for their journalistic integrity. ABC News, for instance, is a major national news outlet with a long history of reporting on political matters. The Associated Press, which also covered the story, is recognized for its factual reporting and adherence to journalistic standards (AP News) [source-2]. The consistency across these reports strengthens the reliability of the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that the Freedom Caucus released a statement on Wednesday night stating they had expelled RJ May from their group after his arrest is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the caucus took immediate action in response to the serious allegations against May, reflecting their commitment to upholding the law and protecting children.
Sources
- Republican South Carolina House member charged with ... - ABC News
- Prosecutors say GOP SC lawmaker used 'joebidennnn69' to send child sex ... - ABC News
- SC Rep. RJ May accused of distributing child sexual abuse ... - WACH
- SC Rep. RJ May accused of distributing child sexual abuse material - WSET
- SC Freedom Caucus releases statement on the arrest of ... - WACH
- House Freedom Caucus founder RJ May in custody for federal charges ... - The State
- Prosecutors say Republican lawmaker used name ... - KGNS
- Legal News > Your source for information behind the law