David Stumbo Hospitalized 2 Days Before South Carolina AG Runoff

Q: Why are two rivals vowing to retry the state's most infamous murder case if elected?

They are vowing to retry the Alex Murdaugh murder case because the South Carolina Supreme Court threw out his double-murder conviction and ordered a new trial, making the case an immediate responsibility for whoever becomes attorney general. The court reversed Murdaugh’s conviction after finding that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors during the 2023 trial. The justices said that interference undermined Murdaugh’s right to a fair and impartial jury, so the state must try the case again if it wants to preserve the murder charges. David Stumbo and Stephen Goldfinch have both said they would pursue that retrial if elected because they argue the state still owes justice to the victims, Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Stumbo has said the attorney general’s duty is to “do justice at all costs” and that the state should get back into court and fight the case. Goldfinch has likewise said he would “absolutely retry that case” and seek the maximum penalty. Their position reflects both the legal reality created by the Supreme Court ruling and the public importance of one of South Carolina’s most closely watched criminal cases. Murdaugh remains imprisoned on financial-crime convictions, but the candidates say that does not resolve the killings themselves, which is why they want the murder case retried.

3 articles · Updated · Live 5 News WCSC · Jun 21

David Stumbo was hospitalized over the weekend in Charleston after waking up Saturday "not feeling right," putting the South Carolina attorney general candidate briefly off the campaign trail before Tuesday's primary runoff.
Doctors admitted him "to be safe and taken care of right away," according to Stumbo, who said he remains in good hands and good spirits.
Tuesday's runoff will pit Stumbo against Stephen Goldfinch, with Stumbo saying doctors expect him to be back at full strength for the contest.