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Juror in Alex Murdaugh Double Murder Trial Speaks out on Court’s ‘Crazy’ Decision to Toss Convictions

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A juror who helped convict Alex Murdaugh in the killings of his wife and son was left stunned by the South Carolina Supreme Court’s “crazy” decision Wednesday to overturn the verdict.

Juror Ami Williams insisted she was never swayed into convicting the disgraced legal scion in the grisly 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son, Paul, after the state’s top court unanimously found that a court clerk improperly influenced his dramatic six-week trial.

Judges ruled that Colleton County court clerk Becky Hill tainted the 2023 trial by meddling with the jury.

“I never felt that the clerk of court was pushing an agenda or trying to push me to come to a certain verdict,” Williams told NBC News Wednesday. “Never felt that way about her at all.”

The shocked juror blasted the court’s decision to toss the murder convictions as “crazy” while hailing Hill – who oversaw the jury – for being “so gracious” and “super helpful.” (Read more from “Juror in Alex Murdaugh Double Murder Trial Speaks out on Court’s ‘Crazy’ Decision to Toss Convictions” HERE)

Nancy Mace Turned ‘Minor Miscommunication’ Into Profanity-Laced ‘Spectacle’ at SC Airport: Police Report

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Rep. Nancy Mace let a “minor miscommunication” blow up into a profane “spectacle” when she repeatedly cussed at cops for being late to escort her through a South Carolina airport, an internal investigation has found.

Mace (R-SC), 47, had expected Charleston Airport Police to walk with her to her gate promptly after being dropped off on the morning of Oct. 30 — but flew into a rage when a supervisor who misidentified her car delayed the congresswoman’s meetup with law enforcement, according to the 10-page report.

The South Carolina gubernatorial hopeful arrived at an unexpected location in a “grey/silver BMW” rather than a “white” one, as the supervisor — who the report said “read the email quickly and pass[ed] on incorrect information unintentionally” — had stated.

Use of the encrypted app Signal — which “[n]o other protectee” uses for communicating with officers — and complications due to the “high personnel turnover” rate in Mace’s office also “exacerbated” the situation, added the Nov. 12 report by Charleston Airport Police Chief James A. Woods.

“While it is clear that we hold a certain level of responsibility in miscommunicating the color of Congresswoman Mace’s vehicle, it’s also equally clear that her continued failure to follow established procedures at the checkpoint is what turned a minor miscommunication over the color of a vehicle into the spectacle that this issue has become for our employees and airport workers,” it concluded. (Read more from “Nancy Mace Turned ‘Minor Miscommunication’ Into Profanity-Laced ‘Spectacle’ at SC Airport: Police Report” HERE)

Wild Video Shows Dems’ Pick for SC Gov’s Race Being Arrested in His Underwear While Calling Himself God and Superman

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Wild, newly released dashcam footage shows the Democrats’ choice to run for governor in South Carolina getting arrested recently in just his underwear — while swearing, using the n-word and referring to himself as both God and Superman.

Married father of four William “Mullins” McLeod, 53, is facing calls from his own party to step down from the gubernatorial race that he only formally entered Monday after video emerged a day later of his bizarre arrest just months earlier in May, according to WCBD.

The prominent attorney was stopped in downtown Charleston while “yelling at the top of his lungs” and wearing only underwear and shoes, according to a police report — which suggested he showed signs “typical of an individual under the influence of a stimulant narcotic.”

The Dem referred to his upcoming election race — even threatening to kick an opponent’s “f–king teeth in” — while refusing to tell cops his name, instead referring to himself as God and Superman, the hour-long video released through a Freedom of Information Act request shows.

“It doesn’t matter, my friend, trust me,” he told one officer when asked his name. “I’m one of the most just humans to ever walk this soil,” he said. (Read more from “Wild Video Shows Dems’ Pick for SC Gov’s Race Being Arrested in His Underwear While Calling Himself God and Superman” HERE)

‘Microwave Mistake’ Leads to Woman’s Death, Police Say

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A 67-year-old woman in South Carolina has died after a “microwave mistake” started a house fire.

Thommie Ruth Jackson died on May 23rd inside the home she shared with her sister in Sumter County, Florida, according to a press release the Sumter Country Sheriff’s Office issued on Facebook.

Authorities received the emergency call reporting the fire late on the night of Thursday the 23rd. Deputies on the scene reported “smoke billowing from the home and heard someone screaming for help,” according to the release.

Deputies quickly learned Jackson was still inside and attempted to force the door open, but thick smoke prevented entry. Jackson’s sister directed them to a window of the room where she believed Jackson was located, while Sumter County Fire Department personnel worked to rescue Jackson and extinguish the fire.

“A witness at the scene reported that a resident had attempted to warm a sandwich in packaging containing foil in the microwave,” deputies said in their official statement. “The sandwich wrapper within the microwave oven burst into flames and attempts to extinguish the fire failed.” (Read more from “‘Microwave Mistake’ Leads to Woman’s Death, Police Say” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

The Next Early Nominating State Is Just Around the Corner — And It’s Not South Carolina

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While all eyes are on South Carolina following New Hampshire’s Republican primary on Tuesday, one state will hold its nominating contests two weeks earlier — Nevada.

Nevada is holding a state primary on Feb. 6 and a party-run caucus two days later, but only one of the nominating contests will count for awarding delegates to the Republican National Committee’s July convention. While former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will be on the primary ballot, former President Donald Trump is the only major Republican candidate competing for delegates in the Nevada GOP-run caucus.

“I know that some people got angry when CNN called Iowa before people voted, but you could’ve called Nevada months ago,” Jeremy Hughes, a Republican strategist based in Nevada, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The Nevada Republican Party had been holding caucuses in presidential cycles for decades until former Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak signed legislation in 2021 requiring a primary system for such elections. The state GOP has pushed back against the new law, deciding to hold the caucus anyway and award the 26 delegates proportionally through its results.

Republican presidential candidates could only participate in one nominating contest at the state party’s direction. (Read more from “The Next Early Nominating State Is Just Around the Corner — And It’s Not South Carolina” HERE)

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Alex Murdaugh Sent to Maximum Security Correctional Institution

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Convicted double murderer Alex Murdaugh has been assigned to the maximum security McCormick Correctional Institution prison in South Carolina.

Murdaugh, 54, who was found guilty of killing his wife and youngest son last month, was moved into protective custody and appointed to the prison due to his high-profile case, Fox News reported.

The disgraced legal scion will be kept from the general population and be housed in a single 8-by-10-foot cell with a bed, toilet and sink cramped inside.

The specialized unit housing Murdaugh holds only 28 inmates, and “their location is not disclosed for safety and security reasons,” officials said in a statement last month about the need to move him.

The McCormick Correctional Institution houses a total of 1,128 adult male inmates and has been the scene of several violent crimes and riots in recent years. (Read more from “Alex Murdaugh Sent to Maximum Security Correctional Institution” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

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New State Law Would Make It Illegal to Request a Person’s Vaccine Status

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A new law proposed in South Carolina could make it illegal for an employer or other organization to ask about a person’s vaccine status.

South Carolina House Bill 4848, also called the “don’t ask” bill, would make questions about a person’s COVID-19 status a misdemeanor crime.

“Notwithstanding another provision of law to the contrary, any employee, officer, agent, or other representative of a public, nonprofit, or private entity who inquires about the COVID-19 vaccination status of any student, employee, member, or anyone else seeking admission on the entity’s premises is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than fourteen thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.” the bill’s text states.

Republican state Rep. Bill Chumley served as one of the co-sponsors of the newly-proposed bill.

“South Carolina didn’t want to get in this fight,” Chumley said, according to FOX Carolina. “It was brought to us by the federal government.” (Read more from “New State Law Would Make It Illegal to Request a Person’s Vaccine Status” HERE)

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South Carolina Is Becoming Home to a Quiet Qatari Military Aircraft Project

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The nation of Qatar, a tiny Gulf state known for its vast energy riches, tiny indigenous population, slave labor economy, and, of course, its troublesome connections to international terrorist organizations, has commenced a massive but under-the-radar spending spree in South Carolina. Through Barzan Aeronautical, a subsidiary of the Qatar defense ministry-controlled Barzan Holdings, Doha has targeted South Carolina as the location for a major military aircraft initiative. The state is home to several Qatar-friendly politicians and defense industry heavyweights.

Senator Lindsey Graham has held several face-to-face meetings with high-ranking delegations from the $320 billion Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), which has pledged to invest billions into the state. Over the past couple of years, Graham has emerged as one of the major pro-Qatar voices in the Senate. He routinely takes to television and other media platforms to repudiate Qatar’s regional adversaries, while bolstering its allies.

The top donor to South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s recent successful gubernatorial campaign is a major Qatari lobbyist. Between 2017 and 2018, Imaad Zuberi, a lobbyist who represents the ultra-wealthy QIA, shelled out over $50,000 for McMaster’s campaign, according to campaign finance reports. Zuberi told associates that his donations to Republicans were a way to pay for further access to politicians, according to The New York Times.

On the local level, the mayor of Charleston, which is home to a major Boeing plant, is also a friend to the Gulf state. He has “signed a declaration of understanding to encourage economic development, cultural and environmental cooperation between Charleston and Doha, Qatar’s capital city,” after meeting with Qatari investment officials, The Post and Courier reported.

Charleston is home to Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner assembly plant. Qatar recently spent over $11 billion to order 30 787s and 10 777s from Boeing. Moreover, the Qatari air force has a $6.2 billion contract with Boeing.

The Qatar-run Barzan Holdings was launched March 12, 2018, intended to act as “a commercial gateway for the defense industry in Qatar.” One week later, a subsidiary company, Barzan Aeronautical, was incorporated in South Carolina. The aircraft program appears to be in the very early stages of development. Barzan Aeronautical’s website lists a target launch date of May 2019.

A promotional video from the Qatari ministry of defense showcases the ambition of the project:

In interviews, Qatari officials have stressed that the one-year-old Barzan Holdings project is a top-priority project for advancing Qatar’s defense goals. In November, the ruler of Qatar himself paid a visit to the Barzan research and development center.

Information on the nature of the mission of Barzan Aeronautical first surfaced in Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings last year through the Department of Justice. A high-powered K Street law firm, Ott, Bielitzki & O’Neill PLLC, defined the Barzan Aeronautical mission as a project dedicated to “development and production of surveillance aircraft” for Qatar. Just a couple of weeks ago (without any media coverage), Barzan Aeronautical submitted its own FARA filing, describing its mission as aiding “in procurement / development of airborne ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance] systems for the foreign principal,” which is the state of Qatar.

In December 2018 and January 2019 alone, the foreign agents representing the Qatari aircraft project listed half a million dollars in lobbying expenses and revenue, according to the FARA filings. Moreover, in FARA disclosures, the K Street law firm noted it is being paid $75,000 per month for government relations services. It also reveals that an American is serving as the CEO of the front company and that its board of directors is a mix of Americans and Qataris. However, the company is 100 percent owned by the Qatar Ministry of Defence.

Barzan Holdings has quickly become a successful international advocate for Qatar’s defense industry, racking up tens of millions of dollars in mega-deals with various nations and their defense industries. Barzan has signed contracts with countless major defense and weapons companies in Turkey, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States.

At the 2018 Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) in March, Qatar, through Barzan, scored deals with American defense industry giants such as Raytheon and Tapestry Solutions, a subsidiary of Boeing, both of which have a major presence in South Carolina. The mega-deal with the Boeing subsidiary was valued at $79 million.

Using its huge energy resources turned to wealth to promise statewide development, Qatar has racked up tremendous diplomatic and financial capital with the influential politicians and defense companies of South Carolina, enough that the al Qaeda and Hamas-funding state is apparently set to build military surveillance aircraft inside the continental United States. (For more from the author of “South Carolina Is Becoming Home to a Quiet Qatari Military Aircraft Project” please click HERE)

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It Spreads: Invasion of the Scary Killer Clowns

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Whatever, the recent spate of hysteria started in South Carolina.

Police say they are doing extra patrols in a Winston-Salem neighborhood after two children reported seeing a clown trying to lure kids into the woods with treats.

About four hours later, a caller who refused to give a name reported another sighting about two miles away. Police say again they found no evidence of a clown.

More unverified scary clown sightings in northern South Carolina have been in the news recently.

In the Greenville area, multiple law-enforcement agencies are investigating a rash of incidents involving clown sightings at apartment complexes and other areas of Greenville and Spartanburg counties. (Read more from “It Spreads: Invasion of the Scary Killer Clowns” HERE)

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This New Law Ensures South Carolina Students Will Study the Founding Documents

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Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, signed a South Carolina House bill into law that implements the study of U.S. founding documents into the state’s public high schools.

The South Carolina Founding Principles Act requires the study of the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and “the structure of the government and the role of separation of powers and the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights” to be added into statewide social studies programs.

This bill, signed June 1, reinforces South Carolina’s Section 59-29-120 that required all public education students, both in high school and in college, to pass a test after a year-long class on the founding documents and principles.

The Founding Principles Act bolsters the existing law by adding an accountability clause requiring the State Department of Education to report to the House and Senate Education Committees as well as the Public Works Committee every two years. This report will outline how South Carolina educators are teaching the documents in their classrooms.

State Rep. Chip Huggins, R-Lexington, told The Daily Signal, “I was just so worried about the erosion away from our foundation, and when I say that, I think it’s time we get back to the basics. The basics in which this country was founded. That’s exactly what we wanted to accomplish with this bill.”

Furthermore, teachers will be provided with “professional development opportunities” to ensure the subject is being properly taught.

“A major part of forming future citizens capable of self-government is ensuring that they are properly educated in the founding documents of our nation,” Arthur Milikh, associate director for principles and politics at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal in an email. “This was once common sense throughout America, but now we are forced to fight to ensure that even the most basic texts—the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, the Declaration of Independence—are taught.”

“These works tell us about the nature of our country, the principles for which we stand, and the way to preserve our constitutional order. Should these texts be lost to students, the next generation will be ruled entirely by popular culture and public opinion,” Milikh wrote.

Huggins, the main sponsor of the bill, said the legislation “ensures that when the standards are rewritten, the founding principles will still be included.”

The Founding Principles Act, however, does not force South Carolina public colleges to do the same.

Section 59-29-120 states that “no student in any such school, college, or university may receive a certificate of graduation without previously passing a satisfactory examination upon the provisions and principles,” but does not hold either public high schools or colleges to that standard. The accountability aspect of The Founding Principles Act only applies to South Carolina public high schools.

Even though Huggins didn’t win the battle with mandating the founding principles into state college curriculums, he believes he won the war with high schools. He stated that the important thing is “we now have the assurance that the founding principles will be taught.” (For more from the author of “This New Law Ensures South Carolina Students Will Study the Founding Documents” please click HERE)

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