Alex Murdaugh failed a lie detector test, breaching his plea agreement, US government says in court filing

Alex Murdaugh failed a lie detector test administered as part of the plea agreement for the disgraced former attorney’s raft of financial crimes, federal prosecutors said, violating the deal, which required his truthfulness, according to a court filing Tuesday.

Alex Murdaugh failed a lie detector test administered as part of the plea agreement for the disgraced former attorney’s raft of financial crimes, federal prosecutors said, violating the deal, which required his truthfulness, according to a court filing Tuesday. As a result, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina is asking a court to release the federal government from the terms of that agreement, freeing prosecutors from their obligation to recommend Murdaugh serve a federal prison sentence concurrent with one imposed in state court for similar crimes. CNN has requested comment from attorneys for Murdaugh, who have until Thursday afternoon to respond to a separate motion by prosecutors to seal the polygraph examination report. The now-disbarred attorney is already serving 27 years for similar crimes after pleading guilty in state court to nearly two dozen charges including money laundering, breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery and tax evasion. That’s in addition to the two consecutive life sentences he received a year ago after he was convicted of the June 2021 murders of his wife and 22-year-old son; killings state prosecutors argued were carried out to offer a distraction as his financial schemes unraveled. The revelation of the failed polygraph test comes days before Murdaugh is due to be sentenced in federal court, scheduled for Monday, April 1. He pleaded guilty in September to 22 charges of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering. Each carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 or 30 years in prison, federal prosecutors said previously. Murdaugh was accused of carrying out several schemes aimed at defrauding his personal injury clients and law firm of millions of dollars in settlement funds that he then used for his personal benefit, according to an indictment.