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A decorated former federal law enforcement agent has made significant progress in debunking seismic allegations of jury tampering raised by attorneys for convicted killer Alex Murdaugh, multiple sources familiar with the status of his investigation have confirmed to this news outlet.
Those findings could constitute the first significant pushback in this still-unfolding narrative … which so far has been dominated by the claims made by Murdaugh’s lawyers.
The bombshell allegations against Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill – buttressed by a trio of sworn affidavits – were part of a recent request from Murdaugh attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin for their client to receive a new 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.
According to Harpootlian and Griffin, Murdaugh’s conviction was improperly influenced by Hill – who allegedly put her thumb on the scales of justice by “advising (jurors) not to believe Murdaugh’s testimony and other evidence presented by the defense, pressuring them to reach a quick guilty verdict, and even misrepresenting critical and material information to the trial judge in her campaign to remove a juror she believed to be favorable to the defense,” according to their bombshell September 5, 2023 motion (.pdf).
Whether their effort is successful will depend on the extent to which the jury tampering allegations can be proven.
Can they? Hmmmm …
(Click to View)
In an effort to defend herself against these charges, Hill has retained attorneys Justin Bamberg and Will Lewis. She has said nothing publicly, however – other than issuing a blanket denial issued to reporter Michael DeWitt of The Hampton County Guardian. Bamberg – a fifth-term state lawmaker – is widely known across the state for his representation of multiple victims of Murdaugh’s admitted financial crimes. Lewis is a former federal prosecutor who clerked for former S.C. chief justice Costa Pleicones.
Neither attorney has commented on the case.
As part of their discovery efforts on Hill’s behalf, though, Bamberg and Lewis reportedly retained veteran federal law enforcement investigator Rob Waizenhofer to look into the jury tampering allegations.
What has Waizenhofer uncovered? It is not immediately clear, but sources familiar with his inquiries are buzzing.
“He may have saved the state’s case,” a source close to the investigation told me over the weekend, referring to Waizenhofer’s reported discoveries.
That certainly seems … significant.
No one on Hill’s team is talking, but sources familiar with the case say Waizenhofer has identified – and exposed – multiple flaws with the affidavits submitted by Murdaugh’s lawyers.
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Waizenhofer spent nearly 34 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where he participated in numerous high-profile investigations. He recently retired from the agency, but still consults with the government from time-to-time – and also works as an investigator in multiple high-profile private sector cases.
Waizenhoefer is reportedly among the most sought-after investigators in the nation – and is generally regarded as the nation’s top polygraph expert.
It is not immediately clear whether Waizenhofer has polygraphed anyone in connection with this case, however.
While attorneys and investigators continue their work, agents of the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are leading the investigation into the jury tampering allegations – much to the chagrin of Murdaugh’s lawyers.
Harpootlian has repeatedly asked the office of U.S. attorney Adair Ford Boroughs to investigate the allegations against Hill – arguing an “independent” investigation was necessary because SLED, which investigated all of the Murdaugh crimes, was too “invested” in the outcome of the proceedings.
During a press conference outside the S.C. court of appeals last month, Harpootlian blasted SLED – saying the agency needed to “stand down” from any jury tampering probe related to the Murdaugh trial. When this news outlet first confirmed SLED was, in fact, investigating, Harpootlian was livid – saying “this is exactly what we asked them not to do.”
“Is this a legitimate investigation or the beginning of a cover-up?” Harpootlian said. “Are they asking questions or are they intimidating people?”
Count on this news outlet to keep our audience in the loop on the latest developments in this newest chapter of the Murdaugh saga …
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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 (soon to be eight) children.
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8 comments
Harmbo may well come out of this mess looking at a serious lawsuit against them and potentially some legal actions.
My mouth to God’s ear that Pooter and Griffin eventually suffer “badly”(to use their slimebag client’s infamous adverb) for their immoral and illegal efforts to obstruct justice while punishing innocent Murdaugh victims.
financially and socially for their flagrant lying and scheming,
To quote Mr. Bamberg-“The milk ain’t clean”. In this ridiculous character assault on Ms. Hill, it is Mr. Poot & Mr. Griffin who have tainted the milk. They clearly will go to any lengths, including ruining the good name of Ms. Hill, to save or get a better deal for their slimeball client. Why??? To save face? Or is it something more sinister? I’m going with the latter…
Isn’t it telling that D. Harp thinks that he has the power to cause SLED to stand down from investigating his claim of jury tampering. He saw the head juror talking with Ms. Hill during the trial. Why not report it then? Hedging his bet? Hoping his client would get off. Lots of effort for a man who deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Are Harpo & Griff too confident theDNC fed AG will make them whole? After all that money they raised for how many years, shouldn’t they get something back? But maybe not. Feds caved on the attachment of fees in AM plea but that will just pay them part and or the PMPD firm. They will do all they can but it is too outrageous to let him walk out… even for Biden DOJ. Maybe..
Where to start?
1) Ms. B admits she “knew” a juror was talking about the case after a Friday night FB post. She had the judge’s cell number but didn’t inform him until 50+ hours later??? And it’s the “Crime of the Century?”
2) Then, Ms. B admits that, it was only after inappropriately speaking with this juror one-on-one, that she informed the Court??? Really?
3) Ms. B’s role as court clerk did not require she visit the crime scene at all! She only went for morbid curiosity gaining nothing to help her do her job. Her responsibilities in a trial are merely ministerial, with no independent discretion concerning any trial matters.
4) The defense team faces absolutely no civil monetary liability for fulfilling their Constitutional and ethical responsibility of representing their client to the best of their ability. (They are obviously not allowed to manufacture evidence, but the affidavits’ existence, even if contested and eventually proven false, seem to protect them.)
5) Ms. B knew the case was not over, still on appeal, and that it could end up back in “her” court. Yet she just couldn’t resist the publicity.
6) Should the case eventually return to court for retrial, Ms. B will be watching it on TV.
7) Judge Newman seems a marvelous man and very competent jurist. But even Judge Newman is now on public record stating his opinion on defendant’s guilt. Should the case be remanded for retrial, Judge Newman won’t be in the courtroom either.
8) Ms. B is an employee of and works for the citizens of South Carolina. She appears to have absolutely no concept of what an independent judiciary is or the importance of a fair and unbiased process. (She was publicly celebrating along with the AG and his team after the verdict? Judge Newman wasn’t.)
9) How long has she been clerk? How many murder or other high-publicity trials have appeared in court when she’s been working? She apparently was previously a court reporter, which is important and difficult. But the sum and substance of typing a transcript is being a human tape recorder, and doesn’t carry any of the ethical responsibilities of the clerkship. From her behavior in this trial, she seems a rookie who should end up losing her job.
10) As support for all my observations re Ms. B; I ask if you can name the Clerks of Court for the trials of OJ Simpson, Charles Manson, Patty Hearst, Ted Bundy, Michael Jackson, the Rodney King officers, or John Hinkley. Hello?
Ms. B is simply not ready for prime time.
Correct !!
I have no sympathy for her . I bet she has done this on many cases .
She gave interviews immediately after the trial to promote her book which was ready to publish before the verdict was in .
Had there been a mistrial or not guilty her book publication would go down in flames . She could have waited until after the appeal was completed before publishing her book and giving interviews which could have caused a min of 6 month delay .
Her book sucks and had she delayed 6 months nobody would even buy the rag .
“Is this a legitimate investigation or the beginning of a cover-up?” Harpootlian said. “Are they asking questions or are they intimidating people?”
Harpo has an irresistable urge to project onto everyone else his own thoughts, cons, lies and deceit.