SC House GOP leader ‘on the way to a full and speedy recovery’ after taken to hospital
A Republican leader in the South Carolina House was taken to the hospital Wednesday after he abruptly left a committee hearing that he was chairing for a medical issue.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Chris Murphy, R-Dorchester, started the hearing on legislation that would change the state’s election laws, including adding two weeks of early voting. He left soon after and did not return to the hearing.
About 30 minutes later, state Rep. Jay Jordan, R-Florence, interrupted the meeting and said Murphy left the building for a medical issue and asked for prayer. Jordan did not provide any further details.
Murphy was taken to the hospital after an apparent seizure, according to a source with knowledge.
A tweet from his account late Wednesday said that he was in stable condition and would be staying overnight at the hospital to run tests and find out what happened.
“He is on the way to a full and speedy recovery. Your prayers have been appreciated,” Murphy’s account said.
Wednesday was the first full House Judiciary Committee hearing in weeks.
Murphy, who has been chairman since 2021, has been absent from the House, first because of COVID-19 and also because of lasting symptoms from the disease.
It was not immediately clear when the full committee might meet again. The first vice chair of the committee is Rep. John King, D-York. The second is Rep. Neal Collins, R-Pickens.
“Join me in praying for @ChrisMurphySC98. Rep. Murphy is a fighter, and I am pray he will be back soon,” tweeted Steven Wright, chairman of the Dorchester County Republican Party.
This story was originally published February 16, 2022 at 3:40 PM.
