News Bites From Across South Carolina And The Nation

**Vice President Harris To Headline 2022 Blue Palmetto Dinner**

The South Carolina Democratic Party is pleased to announce that Vice President Kamala Harris will be the 2022 Blue Palmetto Dinner special guest and speaker. The Vice President will be joined by her husband Doug Emhoff at the event on Friday, June 10.

This year’s Blue Palmetto Dinner is back in person for the first time since 2019. The traditionally annual dinner will honor former Governor and US Secretary of Education Dick Riley.

“South Carolina Democrats can’t wait to welcome Vice President Harris and Mr. Emhoff back to South Carolina. We are excited that we can thank Vice President Harris for her hard work on behalf of the people of South Carolina,” said SCDP Chair Trav Robertson, Jr. “Vice-Chair Lessie Price and I are honored the Vice President accepted our invitation to be with South Carolina Democrats.”
All 2022 Dem Weekend and Blue Palmetto ticket information is available at scdp.org.

**Upstate Man Arrested After Multiple School Shooting Threats**

Jonathan Trent Patterson, 22, of Belton, has been charged in a federal complaint for electronically transmitting multiple shooting threats relating to several schools in Anderson County, according to a news release Friday morning from the United States Attorney’s Office District of South Carolina.

“I want to first let everyone in the Upstate know that we are not aware of any physical harm that occurred as a result of these threats, and the suspect is in custody and thus at this time does not pose a danger to the community,” said U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis.

“While these charges speak for themselves, this office aggressively investigates and, where appropriate, prosecutes threats of violence and acts of violence. This is especially true when anyone threatens harm against our schools, and recent events confirm these threats must be taken seriously. Responding to these cases requires a team approach, and I especially want to thank our partners at the FBI and Sheriff Chad McBride and the rest of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.”

Patterson will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. U.S. Courthouse.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Max Cauthen and Everett E. McMillian are prosecuting the case.

**‘Mountain Of Evidence’ Piling Up Against Alex Murdaugh In Murder Case**

One year ago, Alex Murdaugh told investigators he arrived home to Moselle — the family’s hunting property — around 10 p.m. to find that his wife and son had been murdered near the dog kennels.

He told investigators he had not been near the kennels at or around the time law enforcement believes Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were killed, according to several sources.

In fact, he said he had not seen Maggie or Paul before leaving for Varnville that evening, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

“Alex Murdaugh was with his father at the hospital. According to a person close to the family, he came back to Moselle, took a nap and when he awoke, he left to check on his mother, who suffers from dementia. He didn’t see Maggie and Paul before he left, according to the person.”

In the immediate days after the murders, Murdaugh’s attorneys gave this news outlet similar information that supports the Journal’s account. They also have told the public multiple times over the past year that their client’s whereabouts were “completely” accounted for that night.

A representative from the Murdaugh camp told FITSNews last June Alex’s alibi was “ironclad.” But according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, Alex Murdaugh was not being honest with law enforcement about where he was around the time of the murders.