Posted on 09/25/2008 5:52:26 PM PDT by markomalley
A former Marine lance corporal exonerated in the investigation into the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, has filed a slander suit against Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) for allegedly saying that the Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
Lawyers for Justin Sharratt, 24, filed the lawsuit today in federal court in Pittsburgh. Sharratt's family lives in Murtha's district.
Murtha, a former Marine and vocal opponent of the Iraq war, made his comments at a news conference in 2006, before Sharratt and seven other Marines were charged for the November 2005 killings.
After a preliminary hearing at Camp Pendleton, charges against Sharratt were dismissed in August 2007. In an unsworn statement at the hearing, Sharratt said he opened fire on three Iraqi brothers after being confronted by a man pointing an AK-47 at him.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Justin’s defense fund:
http://www.justinsharratt.com/donations.html
Murtha’s opponent, Bill Russell (who has raised over $2 million):
Won’t Murtha just claim Congressional immunity?
If there was ever a cause that we could get involved in, I think this is the one. Wish I knew how to help this guy.
good for you marine!
Hell, yeah!!!!
He can’t. He repeated his filthy accusations it on a Sunday talk show and other media outlets
Ooops
hoooooooooo rah!!!
It’s fantastic that this is getting national media coverage! Thanks for the ping.
A former Marine? I don’t think so. Once a Marine always a Marine. Semper Fi!
Link at post #2 for donating to Sharratt’s legal fund.
Myself and a few million other Americans heard and saw that soundbite. Murtha should be in an orange jumpsuit awaiting trial for sedition, IMO.
Yeah, I don't think he can. Now, if he was on the floor of the House and said this crap, sure, he'd have immunity.
Murtha is owed this for ABSCAM.
Hopefully either:
A: He gets beaten in the election
B: He has to pay this Marine lots of money
Both would be nice!
I believe that immunity only covers them while performing official business of the government. IIRC, he uttered the slander on more than one occasion, outside the well of the house or his office. I believe it was during a press conference outside the capital and on a new show.
Mark
Got it, thanks. I am going to send it to all my EMail vet buddies.
“once a marine, always a marine.”
agreed; there is no such thing as a former marine.
My Uncle, a Marine, once told me that there were some things that a person could do that would keep them from ever being able to claim they were a Marine. Lee Harvey Oswald was one... I believe that were my Uncle Herb still alive, he'd include Murtha in that very short list.
Mark
Many thanks, kempster. Hopefully Murtha gets his hide nailed to the barn.
Good.
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