© Presented by USA Today. South Carolina Judge Alex Murdon In 2021 he pleaded guilty to killing his son and wife.On today's 5 Things podcast, Murda was found guilty
Alex Murdo was found guilty of killing his wife and child. In addition, the Justice Department may indict former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots, the House Ethics Committee said. Investigating George Santos on the campaign trail and other allegations, TODAY Congressional Correspondent Candy Woodall examines mental health in Congress and which majors make the most?
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Click play on the player above to listen to the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript has been automatically generated and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between audio and text.
TaylorWilson:
Good morning I'm Taylor Wilson and on Friday March 3rd 2023 there are 5 things you need to know. Alex Murdo was convicted of murder today. Additionally, former President Donald Trump could face impeachment on Jan. 6, and we're hearing about mental health issues in Congress.
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Alex Murdo was found guilty.
chancellor;
The crime of murder. SK Code 16-3-0010 CDR Code 0116. Convicted.
TaylorWilson:
Last night, a jury found a disgraced South Carolina attorney guilty of the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul. The couple got married in 2010.
So how did we get to this point? From Hampton County Guardian Editor-in-Chief Michael DeWitt Jr.
Michael DeWitt Jr.:
Prosecutors have highlighted circumstantial evidence and mountains of lies and inconsistent statements made by Alex Murdo. They don't have a smoking gun. They have no obvious murder plot and no witnesses. But according to the prosecution, I'll present two witnesses, but both are dead.
The most important piece of evidence was a cell phone video. Over the course of several months, Alex Murdo repeatedly told authorities that he was not present at the time of the crime and had not seen the family for one and a half to two hours. And this video has finally come to light after a year of forensic research that required the help of the FBI. It took a year to put it all together and they found a video of him at the crime scene at 8:45 and they think he was killed just four or five minutes later.
TaylorWilson:
And do you consider this video the most important in this case?
Michael DeWitt Jr.:
This cell phone video, taken by his son Paul Murdo, is the most important piece of evidence. That puts it where it says it wasn't. He put it down minutes before he was shot. And the second most convincing evidence is that the two family pistols are missing and that the shell casings found at the site match those found in the Moselle.
So it's very clear that it's hard to tell whether an unknown drug gang, dealer, or gunman arrived and planted a weapon at the scene. Most assassins bring their own guns to the party. So those are two big tests.
TaylorWilson:
Michael told me that once the crimes are committed, the defense will try to focus on the police misconduct.
Michael DeWitt Jr.:
Of course, any defense attorney treats the state's case like a shopping list, going through the list and trying to find a way to get rid of everything and everyone. If there's a reasonable doubt that one in 100 fingerprints don't match or that the DNA isn't 100% wrong, they will. But their main argument is low quality police work.
Some mistakes were made at the start of the investigation. When the police come to the home of a famous person from a famous family, they do him a favor that the average defendant doesn't get. Murd's legal partners were all over the scene. They didn't search Murdon's house as much as they should have. They didn't search his parents' house, according to them he left behind evidence and weapons.
So the mistakes have already been made. They also criticized state police for identifying Murdo as the prime suspect and not taking the time to eliminate what they say are other suspects.
TaylorWilson:
And another key moment in the final days of this week's trial was the removal of a juror. I asked Mikhail why exactly this happened.
Michael DeWitt Jr.:
We're told the judge spoke to at least three people unrelated to the case and gave his opinion on the evidence or Murdoch's guilt or innocence. It was probably the judge who sided with Murd, because the state didn't care when the judge said she forgave the judge and replaced her with a deputy, but Murd's team didn't.
So clearly the information he's broadcasting here is an educated guess, either they didn't have enough evidence or he thought he was innocent. And of course the defense said, "Hey, we don't want to get rid of her." Eventually the judge acquitted her.
TaylorWilson:
Murdo's sentencing is scheduled for 9:30. Although the South Carolina Attorney General's Office is seeking life in prison without the possibility of parole, the minimum sentence for manslaughter is 30 years. Murdo faces more than a hundred criminal charges related to alleged crimes including money laundering, theft of millions of customers, drug trafficking and a failed life insurance plan. You can read more at USATODAY.com and see extensive coverage at blufftontoday.com, part of the USA TODAY network.
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Former President Donald Trump will no longer have absolute immunity from three civil charges brought against him in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, the Justice Department announced yesterday. This means that he can be accused of participating in the rebellion. The three-judge District of Columbia Court of Appeals will decide whether the trial will continue.
Each case accuses Trump of inciting violence. A police officer was shot and killed in the House of Representatives building, and an officer who was sprayed with chemicals in the attack died of a stroke the next day. About 1,000 people have been reported.
Trump's attorneys appealed to the appellate court in 2015. He urged the appellate court to dismiss the controversial speeches he delivered on Jan. 6, 2021, saying they were part of the president's duties. The lawyers have also called on their supporters to raise their voices peacefully. But others, including US District Judge Amit Mehta, have urged Trump supporters to "fight like hell" before they bring in the police and enter the Capitol.
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Last year New York Congressman George Santos was subpoenaed by the House Ethics Committee to investigate a number of allegations relating to his campaign and tenure. The subcommittee, made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, will investigate whether Santos engaged in illegal activity during his campaign last year and investigate allegations of sexual harassment involving a staffer. The freshman Republican resigned from the commission after admitting she embellished her work experience, including lying about her academic grades. However, he refused to leave Congress despite calls from both sides for his resignation.
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Senator John Fetterman was hospitalized last month for mental health issues. As Congress Today reporter Candy Woodall told me, he's not alone.
Candy, thanks for coming to the show.
Candy Woodall:
Thanks for the invite. I appreciate it.
TaylorWilson:
I want to start with Senator John Fetterman. What is treated in the hospital?
Candy Woodall:
He is being treated for severe clinical depression. It's something he's struggled with on and off throughout his life, but staff have said things have gotten serious in recent weeks.
TaylorWilson:
And other members of Congress are sharing their own stories of mental health issues. What did Congressman Richie Torres say about his experience with depression?
Candy Woodall:
Hospitalization changed his life. He said he received first class treatment there, and Senator Wetterman will be there for several weeks. And by the way, that's a level.
Many doctors say this is the time to adjust your medication as needed. And Richie Torres told us he really needed the drug, and has been on it ever since, and it's helping him live a healthy, full, productive life. It still has issues, but they are fixable now.
TaylorWilson:
And I know you've heard from many lawmakers about their experiences. Can you tell us about some of the other things you've heard?
Candy Woodall:
Basically, that's what I heard. Many people experience this. And we know from CDC statistics and other federal data that more than half of Americans will experience depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses in their lifetime.
The difference maker gets help. And it can be hard to get or feel help the first time, but they say leaving a mental illness untreated is very scary.
A member of parliament shared with us that her late husband committed suicide, and that is Representative Susan Wilde. Since then, he has served in Congress, passing mental health legislation and making decisions for mental health care. He helped her win the election.
I have heard from every MP that help is available and everything does not require hospitalization. This is usually a combination treatment. Sometimes you have to try different medications to find one that works. And I think our history shows that people in the top echelons of power in this country who have a lot of money are struggling with that. It can really piss off anyone.
TaylorWilson:
As for legislation, Candy, what is Congress doing to address mental health issues in America? And have you noticed that Republicans and Democrats are split on this issue, or is this a fairly bipartisan issue?
Candy Woodall:
There are certainly some bipartisan efforts. They vary somewhat and most of them boil down to the insurance lobby. But efforts have been made over the years to treat mental health in the same way as physical health. They call it equality. As you know, Congress has so many problems that it is not clear what their priorities are.
TaylorWilson:
Everything is fine. Candy Woodall covers the US Congress today. Thanks, Candy.
Candy Woodall:
Thank you.
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TaylorWilson:
With college just around the corner, high school seniors may be thinking about career choices and how much they can make with their first job. If you are an engineer, there are many answers. Americans with a chemical engineering degree earn an average salary of $75,000 over five years. This comes from the recently released rate from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. And other types of engineers make more than 70,000 in the same period.
Of the 73 majors FRS researchers studied, graduates of six, all of which were humanities, earned an average of less than $40,000 this season. However, college typically costs an average of $35,000. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, college graduates without college degrees still earn more than those with a high school diploma.
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Today is National Anthem Day. The Star Spangled Banner was first flown during the national anthem by President Herbert Hoover 92 years ago.
5 Thanks for listening. Tonight's show is hosted by James Brown and Shannon Ray Green. Our Executive Director is Laura Beattie. Special thanks to Cheri Saunders and Alexis Gustin. I'll be back tomorrow with 5 more articles from USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA Today: Alex Murdo Convicted of Murder, Home Detectives George Santos: The 5 Things Podcast
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