"Overruled."
"Oh, no, no, no. No, I STRENUOUSLY object."
"Oh. Well, if you strenuously object then I should take some time to reconsider."
Posted on 09/25/2008 9:19:51 AM PDT by Iron Munro
Edited on 09/25/2008 11:17:56 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
One of the Marines cleared in the killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad.
Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
"Overruled."
"Oh, no, no, no. No, I STRENUOUSLY object."
"Oh. Well, if you strenuously object then I should take some time to reconsider."
I'm pretty sure that Murtha's first 'Press Statements' were made in his Conference Room in his Jonestown Office, not on the Capital grounds. Maybe Red, smooth or jaz can verify that.
Again...I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT!
Was he acting within his official capacity when he made the co0mments? He was not on the Senate or House Floor when he made those statemetns IIRC.
Yes, the press conference was from his Johnstown office but later he was inviewed by Chrissy Matthews on Hardball.
Pics and excerpted text here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2089841/posts?page=178#178
http://russellbrigade.com/
Pro War?
What war was Murtha for???
Like taking a whiz in the congressional bathroom is official business.
MEDIA RELEASE
September 25, 2008
RUSSELL FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
CONTACT: Peg Luksik
(814) 525-9171
Murtha Opponent Comments on Justin Sharratt Lawsuit
Russell Says “The Reputations of These Marines Have Been Tarnished”
(JOHNSTOWN, PA) - Republican candidate in the 12th PA Congressional district Bill Russell commented today on the lawsuit filed against incumbent Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) by a Marine from the district. The suit was filed by LCpl. Justin Sharratt of Canonsburg, PA, in Pittsburgh Federal Court and seeks relief for the stripping of Mr. Sharratt’s Constitutional rights, specifically his right to the presumption of innocence and due process, as well as relief for slander.
The lawsuit was prompted by Murtha’s widely reported comments of Marines at Haditha, Iraq “killing innocent civilians in cold blood.”
“As a career military officer and a 9-11 Pentagon survivor, I have a personal interest in seeing the record and reputations of these courageous Marines cleared,” said Russell. “It is contemptible that any member of Congress abuse the power of his office to advance a political agenda by unjustly attacking our brave men and women in uniform. Lance Corporal Sharratt was declared innocent by a properly convened military court, and he has every right to seek justice for the denial of his Constitutional rights to due process and the presumption of innocence, and for the damage done to his reputation. I sincerely hope that Congressman Murtha will use this opportunity to admit his mistake and take responsibility for the harm his false accusations have done to Justin Sharratt and his family. Justin’s right to justice goes beyond politics. I call upon Congressman Murtha to deal honorably with the Sharratt’s, and not attempt to hide behind election-year rhetoric and the very office whose power he abused to deny them this right”.
-30-
If its not in the congressional record it isn’t protected.
There’s a link at post #11, M_E.
You can't sue a member of congress for anything he/she says on the House or Senate floor.
But if Murtha made any of us slanderous accusations off the floor, seems to me he has liability. It's a very hard argument for him to make that his comments outside of the Capitol building were actions in his official capacity.
Party: Democrat
Wooops! Thanks for the correction; still has the same impetus to Sharratt's case.
You can't sue an appointed official for actions taken in an official capacity. But elected officials, especially of the legislative branch, have no real official duties. You can't "question" a CongressCritter for what it says on the floor of Congress, but IIRC, Murtha's defamation took place on a Sunday morning talk shows and press conferences, not on the floor of the House. He was acting in his capacity as a politician, not as a Congressman.
We'll go natural/green. Use unprocessed tree sap, or lightly processed cane or beet sugar. Roll 'em in that, use recycled "fluffed" plastic instead of feathers. Then dump him on a fire ant pile. They like sugar, and have other interesting and useful behaviors as well.
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