US Marine Sues Rep. Murtha Over Haditha Remarks

In this AP news photo, U.S. Rep. John Murtha, a high ranking Pennsylvania Democrat, speaks about Iraq during an address Monday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2008 -- Writing in The Tribune-Democrat, reporter Mike Faher notes that in May 2006, six months after 24 people were killed in a small Iraqi town, U.S. Rep. John Murtha (Dem.) made a startling accusation.

He contended that U.S. troops had killed innocent civilians “in cold blood.” Murtha, a former Marine and decorated Vietnam War veteran, spoke out about the killings, saying that troops in Iraq were being put under too much pressure.

Now, less than six weeks before Murtha is up for re-election, a Marine involved in the now-infamous Haditha incident is suing the Democrat for slander.

Justin Sharratt left the Marine Corps last year. But he claims Murtha’s statements have caused “permanent, irreversible damage to his reputation.”

“What Murtha did is outrageous, and I am seeking punitive damages,” said Noah Geary, a Pittsburgh attorney representing Sharratt.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Pittsburgh.

It includes Murtha’s statements from nationally televised interviews in 2006, including an exchange during a CNN interview with anchor Wolf Blitzer.

“There was an (improvised explosive device) attack, it killed one Marine, and then they overreacted and killed a number of civilians without anybody firing at them,” Murtha told Blitzer.

“That’s what you’re going to find out.”

Four enlisted Marines, including Sharratt, were originally charged for their roles in the killings and four officers were charged in connection to the investigation. One officer was acquitted and charges have since been dropped against everyone else except Wuterich, whose case is pending.

Wuterich, of Meriden, Conn., has pleaded not guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter. He is accused of ordering his men to clear several houses with grenades and gunfire, leading to the deaths of women and children.

Murtha has 60 days to respond to the lawsuit.

You can read the rest of the article at the following URL: http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_270000717.html.

(Story from mainstream media sources.)

Tags: Open Thread, Wire, Headlines, DOD, Military, War, United States, U.S., News in Balance
Global Tags: Washington DC, News and Politics, News, Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Life, Culture, Buzz, Tension