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2 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 1h ago

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Defense attorney admits he was wrong about Alex Murdaugh passing a murder polygraph

WCNC Charlotte (Tegna) reaches for "admits" where Fox News - US stays flat.

0 Left1 Center1 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of August 20, 2026 at 4:07 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened In a statement, Dick Harpootlian said he "conflated several facts" regarding polygraph tests related to the murder of Maggie Murdaugh.
The headline split The center frames it as "Defense attorney admits he was wrong about Alex Murdaugh passing a murder polygraph". The right frames it as "Alex Murdaugh defense team lied about polygraph results, prosecutors allege in new filing".
Match confidence Developing. The source map is still developing. Keep watching for more sources to join.
Same-event confidenceDeveloping

Not enough sources yet to confirm this is the same specific event.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftNo matching source in this bucket yet.

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

CenterDefense attorney admits he was wrong about Alex Murdaugh passing a murder polygraph

WCNC Charlotte (Tegna) · Center · News report

Right / center-rightAlex Murdaugh defense team lied about polygraph results, prosecutors allege in new filing

Fox News - US · Right · News report

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
WCNC Charlotte (Tegna)News report · Aug 20, 4:07 PM

Defense attorney admits he was wrong about Alex Murdaugh passing a murder polygraph

admits

In a statement, Dick Harpootlian said he "conflated several facts" regarding polygraph tests related to the murder of Maggie Murdaugh.

Open source
RightMixed
Fox News - USNews report · Aug 20, 4:01 PM

Alex Murdaugh defense team lied about polygraph results, prosecutors allege in new filing

Prosecutors allege Alex Murdaugh's attorney lied about polygraph results, claiming he never took a lie detector test before his 2023 murder trial.

Open source
Details64/99 Wording Gap · Low confidence · 2 sources
64/99 Wording GapLow confidence2 sources · 2 bias bucketsDeveloping · 2 sources · 2 bucketsFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Aug 20, 4:01 PM: Fox News - US joined the source map.

Aug 20, 4:07 PM: WCNC Charlotte (Tegna) joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 64/99 and story health is developing · 2 sources · 2 buckets.