# Republican vs. Democratic pedophiles **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 19, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867 "2025-06-19T22:18:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/1 "2025-06-19T22:18:30Z")
For the purpose of this thread, ‘pedophile’ means adult who has sexual relations with a minor (boys or girls). I’ve read at least three, maybe four, articles about Republican politicians (and adjacent) being arrested for child pornography, soliciting sex with a minor, etc. The most recent one is [Robert John May III, Representative of South Carolina](https://www.wspa.com/news/state-news/sc-state-rep-rj-may-facing-10-counts-of-child-sex-charges/). I _think_ I’ve heard of Democrats being arrested, but not for some time. **Question:** Is anyone keeping track? Is there a list of Republican and Democratic politcos who have been arrested on child sex/pornography charges/ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/2 "2025-06-19T22:53:55Z")
I think the question must also be asked as to which political parties support those that are exposed as pedophiles, lest we get into a false “both sides do it!” argument. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/3 "2025-06-19T23:34:37Z")
I’ve wondered similarly, although I suspect that its more even than it appears. Since thanks to the stupid, evil and schadenfreude Republican threads we probably hear about just about every Republican pdophile, while low profile Democratic pedophiles might slide under the radar. On the other hand sexual repression, narcissism and sociopathy are endemic in Republicans so it there could be a real bias. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/4 "2025-06-20T00:44:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think the question must also be asked as to which political parties support those that are exposed as pedophiles, lest we get into a false “both sides do it!” argument. I’d rather not get into that. I’m interested in the raw data. > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > while low profile Democratic pedophiles might slide under the radar. Which they shouldn’t. They should be on The List. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/5 "2025-06-20T00:52:54Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Since thanks to the stupid, evil and schadenfreude Republican threads we probably hear about just about every Republican pdophile, while low profile Democratic pedophiles might slide under the radar. Which appears to be the purpose of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/6 "2025-06-20T01:00:15Z")
The only national democratic figure I can think of is Anthony Weiner. Looking online, Mel Reynolds (rep from IL) was arrested in 1995. I really can’t find any more recent names other than Weiner as far as high ranking democratic politicians. There’s a few regional democrats (members of state legislatures and high ranking in the state party) but not many I can find on the national level. > **[Mel Reynolds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Reynolds)** > > Melvin Reynolds (born January 8, 1952) is an American politician from Illinois. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. He resigned in October 1995 after a jury convicted him of sexual assault charges related to sex with an underage campaign worker. > Reynolds and his twin brother, Marvin Jerry Reynolds, were born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi to Reverend J. J. Reynolds and Essie Mae Prather. Reynolds moved to Chicago as a child. ... ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/7 "2025-06-20T01:22:58Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’d rather not get into that. I’m interested in the raw data. I am afraid that the “raw data” must include information that shows that Republicans are more in the news for their indiscretions _because_ of the attempts at covering up/excusing by other Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/8 "2025-06-20T13:11:49Z")
Given all of the well-publicized Republicans, I’d think any Democrats with similar secrets would be doubling down on hiding their offenses. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/9 "2025-06-20T13:16:26Z")
Given the proclivities of the Republican Party, had any Democrat been charged like this, we’d be hearing about it every goddamned day from now until the ending of the Earth. Take a look at how much effort the put into those “Creepy Biden” memes. If they had actual cases, they’d be shouting about them at the top of their lungs. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/10 "2025-06-20T13:21:01Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > …while low profile Democratic pedophiles might slide under the radar. I don’t know, I think Fox News would go 24/7 on a Democratic county commissioner convicted of a child sex crime, especially if it took time away from a Trump scandal. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/11 "2025-06-20T13:26:08Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > There’s a few regional democrats (members of state legislatures and high ranking in the state party) but not many I can find on the national level. Regional is fine. Just looking for party members from both sides who work or represent the party in some way. Or even citizens who are particularly vocal on the subject, or an especially enthusiastic supporter of the party or candidate. > [@Horatius](#): > > If they had actual cases, they’d be shouting about them at the top of their lungs. I’m sure I heard of a nationally-known Democrat being busted within the last 20 or so years. Down to the regional level, [here’s one in Florida](https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/florida-democratic-party-official-arrested-on-child-pornography-charges-orange-county-florida-democratic-party-treasurer-matthew-inman) from January. He was the Orange County Democratic Treasurer. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/12 "2025-06-20T13:47:47Z")
[https://www.wspa.com/news/state-news/sc-state-rep-rj-may-facing-10-counts-of-child-sex-charges/](https://www.wspa.com/news/state-news/sc-state-rep-rj-may-facing-10-counts-of-child-sex-charges/) Co founder of the states Freedom Caucus denied bond. > **[Benton County, Mo., treasurer arrested for sex crimes involving a child](https://www.ky3.com/2025/06/09/benton-county-mo-treasurer-arrested-sex-crimes-involving-child/#)** > > The Missouri Highway Patrol arrested the Benton County treasurer for sex crimes involving a child. County treasurer held on 1 million dollar bail. Even more so than people in politics are men in Baptist/protestantchurches these days getting anrrested and charged with child swx abuse. Almost goes without saying they’re republicans. ETA: Police officers too. Practically one a day from what I see reported. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/13 "2025-06-20T13:56:25Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Regional is fine. Just looking for party members from both sides who work or represent the party in some way. I think it’s best, for a thread like this, to first set a threshold for what counts, and then look for names. Otherwise you run into the issue of counting senators for one party, and assistant members of township boards for the other. I would suggest “state-level elected officials” as the line: Below that, and there’s usually so little attention paid to the race that the public probably wouldn’t know anything about the candidate, and so it’s unfair to blame a party as a whole for the actions of the individuals. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/14 "2025-06-20T14:54:52Z")
The level I was looking at is one where the person’s political affiliation is worth mentioning. Yes, a senator is a higher rank than a party clerk. But ‘the sin is the same’, and and I’m just wondering if there is a list; or at least a tally. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/15 "2025-06-20T14:59:33Z")
No, the sin is _not_ the same, and it is disingenuous to try to compare the two sides without talking about the political influence and team support one side brings to the table versus the other side. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/16 "2025-06-20T15:03:24Z")
Who hasn’t masturbated in front of a preschool? > **[“I Fucked Up”: Retired Arizona Prison Guard and GOP Candidate Allegedly...](https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2022/nov/5/i-fucked-retired-arizona-prison-guard-and-gop-candidate-allegedly-caught-masturbating-near-preschool/)** ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/17 "2025-06-20T15:12:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No, the sin is _not_ the same I disagree. It doesn’t matter if someone is a clerk or a congressman, if they both committed the same crime. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > it is disingenuous to try to compare the two sides without talking about the political influence and team support one side brings to the table versus the other side. I understand what you’re saying. At least I think I do. It sounds like you’re saying that one side proclaims ‘family values’ and accuses the other side of pedophelia and ‘grooming’. The other side doesn’t. In my opinion, one side is a gang of hypocrites. But once again: I’m looking for a list and/or numbers. Nothing more. That’s why I called it ‘raw data’. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/18 "2025-06-20T15:20:31Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > It sounds like you’re saying that one side proclaims ‘family values’ and accuses the other side of pedophelia and ‘grooming’. The other side doesn’t. That isn’t even close to what I am saying. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/19 "2025-06-20T15:26:11Z")
OK, you’ll have to explain to me why if two people commit the same crime, why it makes a difference which party they belong to. For what I’m looking for, the only difference is which column they go into. It’s like this: - How many Democrats are dog owners? - How many Republicans are dog owners? That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867/20 "2025-06-20T15:30:34Z")
One side tends to have higher ups commit the crime, and they do their best to excuse and/or cover up the crime. The other side tends to have people lower down the line commit the crime, and they tend _not_ to try to excuse or cover up the crimes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-vs-democratic-pedophiles/1019867.md?page=2)