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The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) – the lead investigatory agency on all of the ‘Murdaugh Murders’ crime and corruption probes – is formally investigating bombshell allegations of jury tampering in the Palmetto State’s ‘Trial of the Century,’ the double homicide trial of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh.
In fact, the agency has been investigating these allegations for several weeks, according to our sources … much to the chagrin of Murdaugh’s attorneys, who believe the agency cannot act independently in connection with any inquiry related to this trial.
Murdaugh was convicted on March 2, 2023 of murdering his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and younger son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh, on June 7, 2021 on the family’s former hunting property, known locally as Moselle. The following day – March 3, 2023 – he was sentenced to consecutive life terms for those crimes by circuit court judge Clifton Newman.
Murdaugh’s attorneys – state senator Dick Harpootlian and veteran Columbia, S.C. defense attorney Jim Griffin – dropped a bombshell this week when they alleged jury tampering on the part of Colleton County clerk of court, Becky Hill.
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This allegation was supported by multiple affidavits from jurors – as well as one former juror who was controversially removed on the final day of the trial. SLED was integrally involved in the process which led to the juror’s controversial removal, incidentally.
During a press conference outside the S.C. court of appeals on Tuesday afternoon, Harpootlian blasted SLED – saying the agency needed to “stand down” from any jury tampering probe related to the Murdaugh trial. Harpootlian’s language seemed to indicate his belief such an investigation was already underway.
Well, it was … and is.
This news outlet confirmed that prior to Labor Day, SLED agents were in Colleton County investigating these allegations – and were continuing their work there on Wednesday morning (September 6, 2023).
Harpootlian was livid at these reports, saying “this is exactly what we asked them not to do.”
“Is this a legitimate investigation or the beginning of a cover-up?” Harpootlian asked during a Wednesday evening interview with this media outlet. “Are they asking questions or are they intimidating people?”
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Harpootlian demanded an “independent” investigation into the Murdaugh trial jury tampering allegations, claiming SLED was too “invested” in the outcome of the proceedings to handle the case objectively.
In addition to filing a motion for a new trial for Murdaugh based on the alleged jury tampering, Harpootlian also sent a letter to the office of U.S. attorney Adair Ford Boroughs asking federal agents to investigate the case.
“I write to request an urgent federal investigation of conduct by a South Carolina elected official,” Harpootlian wrote. “I request that federal law enforcement investigate whether Ms. Hill and any other state actor violated (federal law) by tampering with the Colleton County jury.”
As of this writing, there was no indication the feds were moving forward with such an investigation – although obviously that could change at any moment.
Absent a federal inquiry, Harpootlian indicated an independent local law enforcement agency with the appropriate resources could conceivably step in and investigate the allegations.
“We’ve got a lot of good sheriffs in this state,” he said, singling out the office of Richland County sheriff Leon Lott as a possible option.
SLED was not immediately available to respond to Harpootlian’s comments.
What do you think? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our always-engaging comments section below …
Does Alex Murdaugh deserve a new trial?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.
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14 comments
How nice of Pootie to tell us who can and cannot investigate his allegations. Given what his team showed in court the first time around, I doubt a second trial will come to any other conclusion than that his client is very, very, very guilty. Also, the financial crimes alone will keep him in prison for the rest of his miserable life.
I AGREE WITH POOTIE!!! SORRY NOT SORRY! Becky Hill and SLED DIRTY AA RED DIRT!
OK let the games begin. Where is all the money coming from for this? Should it not go to those swindled by Alex? Of course not Demo attorneys come first.
Amen!
Kudos to SLED for getting out ahead of this. The last thing that needs to happen is for the Feds to take over. The FBI has proven just how trustworthy they are the past few years-NOT at all. I have no faith in them for anything except to take care of their own. With Dick’s ties to Biden & that administration-malarkey! They have ruined innocent people & Ms. Becky would be no different. And she is presumed innocent. Pardon me for being skeptical of anything the Murdaugh camp pulls. There were some horribly wild pretrial motions & this reeks of more of the same.
Your comment is “right on” J Monday, that’s like putting a fox in charge of guarding the proverbiale “hen house”!
With “P00t” being a die hard democrat, with direct access to the President himself, (has cell phone number), of course he would want the FBI to investigate these accusations, since the FBI, from Dir. Wray and all the execs in the Washington, is totally a Democratic run department. Why wouldn’t these democrats want the accusations investigated by a democrat controlled law enforcement bureaucracy?
Absolutely improper for the Clerk of Court to instruct the jurors to find him guilty and not to be confused by his attorneys Her motive was personal financial gain to have her book published and, on the market, available for purchase.
She had an incredible conflict as her personal interest to make a Buck was in conflict with her duties as a Clerk of Court to guarantee Murdaugh had an impartial jury who made their unanimous decisions based upon the evidence presented by the Attorneys.
The only conversations she should have had with the members of the Jury should have been to find out what they wanted for LUNCH
She Knew better
I AGREE WITH POOTIE!!! SORRY NOT SORRY! Becky Hill and SLED DIRTY AA RED DIRT!
SLED investigating? I s that the same SLED whose agent admitted that he lied to a Grand Jury? Bring on a Federal investigation.
Absolutely ? percent agree! Bring on the FBI…! Billy BAD Bully Becky Hill money ? you should be ashamed! She controlled everything from who got in and where the set to controlling the jury and their own thoughts SHAME! I never seen such a mess! Yes he deserves a new trial and Judge Newman got to comfortable with her controlling his court room!!! I have NO DOUBT she did it for favorite ppl and padded her pockets!!!!
Absolutely ? percent agree! Bring on the FBI…! Billy BAD Bully Becky Hill money ? you should be ashamed! She controlled everything from who got in and where the set to controlling the jury and their own thoughts SHAME! I never seen such a mess! Yes he deserves a new trial and Judge Newman got to comfortable with her controlling his court room!!! I have NO DOUBT she did it for favorite ppl and padded her pockets!!!!
Sled has Proven themselves to be totally aloof
If there is absolute positive proof that the Clerk of Court tampered with the jury by sending them messages that he was guilty, etc.