Marine cleared in Haditha case set to sue Murtha?
posted at 6:08 pm on October 12, 2007 by Allahpundit
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This makes three suits either pending or soon to be filed stemming from Murtha’s “in cold blood” comments last spring: SSgt. Frank Wuterich filed suit alleging defamation last August, Col. Jeffrey Chessani, commander of the Third Battalion that allegedly perpetrated the massacre, said he was thinking about it six weeks ago, and now apparently Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt — against whom all charges have already been dismissed — told Sean Hannity he’s ready to jump in, too.
Exit question: Will a groveling, humiliating apology from Murtha suffice or will nothing short of monetary damages do? Exit answer: The former, because Murtha will invoke the Speech or Debate Clause (inappropriately) if they press ahead and try to hit him in the wallet.
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This is the party that wants terrorists to face court trials, right?
Well, how’s that working out for you?
Hope they all win against that bloated brain-dead thief.
bbz123 on October 12, 2007 at 6:10 PM
Considering Willie Jefferson of LA is making the same claim in his bribery case(That he is protected because he is in Congress) you have to wonder how far the dems will allow this to be pushed
William Amos on October 12, 2007 at 6:10 PM
Monetary damages, they need to hit that fat traitorous bastage so damn hard that he squeals like a stuck pig every time he even so much as thinks about his wallet.
doriangrey on October 12, 2007 at 6:16 PM
Go get him men! Make that slimy bastard pay! Make him pay publically.
Zetterson on October 12, 2007 at 6:19 PM
I would demand both from Murtha, then demand Algore’s Nobel “Peace” Prize since they are the ones really making a peaceful world. The last one is a pipe dream, I know.
SouthernGent on October 12, 2007 at 6:19 PM
There’s gotta be a way to wack spanky but good in the courts.
I want pigs blood!
Kini on October 12, 2007 at 6:19 PM
We must find a way to hold lefies responsible for thier irresponsible actions! I am not a nomally a lawsuit type of person. However in this case: smash the wallet and break his bank
allrsn on October 12, 2007 at 6:20 PM
Murtha deserves to lose his shirt, regardless of his previous service record. It means nothing in the face of accusing other servicemen of murder.
madmonkphotog on October 12, 2007 at 6:24 PM
allrsn on October 12, 2007 at 6:20 PM
Agreed, just for starters. I think he also ought to be reprimanded in Congress as well, maybe some good Republican can start up a resolution condemning him…
jdawg on October 12, 2007 at 6:24 PM
Bang his wallet big time. Then make him get down on his knees in front of every Marine Corps unit and apologise for being a a**hat.
BobK on October 12, 2007 at 6:27 PM
This bloated traitor deserves to be stuck with a BIG fat money judgment. Maybe this will teach the whacked out Dems that they shouldn’t be insulting our troops.
Rick on October 12, 2007 at 6:30 PM
I much rather they ’spank’ him in the House so that he can keep his dough for the soon-to-inhabit home for the senile.
Entelechy on October 12, 2007 at 6:31 PM
On Hannity, Justin also pointed out he’s a voter in Murtha’s district! How sweet.
Hannity was encouraging him to run against Murtha in the next election.
desertdweller on October 12, 2007 at 6:31 PM
“Men” like Murtha-the-Hut are getting our fighting men killed. When our warriors are worrying about what thier politicians and media are saying back home, it directly effects them in combat decisions.
What a disgrace.
americaslaststand on October 12, 2007 at 6:31 PM
He didn’t say it in Congress… he said it OUTSIDE of either house.
Its clearly not covered. He was NOT debating in Congress, he was on a talk show.
Just cause your a Congressman, it does NOT give you a free pass to break all the laws.
Romeo13 on October 12, 2007 at 6:33 PM
Well, MY instincts tell me that an apology won’t do a thing for me and my fellow Gyrenes; he wouldn’t do it anyway. Monetary punishment is definitely the way to go with guaranteed college educations for the Marine victims of his hate speech paid from his own pocket, not the Soros machine or the taxpayers…… wait a minute… he’s paid by taxpayers; damn we’re screwed again.
MNDavenotPC on October 12, 2007 at 6:34 PM
Only applies to cases where it is said on the floor of the house or senate. Murtha’s accusations were made on Sunday morning talk shows.
He’s about to regret what he said IMMENSELY!
Defector01 on October 12, 2007 at 6:34 PM
Murtha has had plenty of time to apologize. Now an apology is not near enough. It is time for him to pay for his slandering Marines in combat.
I would like to see him tried for treason. Money is not enough, he needs to be disgraced for all history to know.
Wade on October 12, 2007 at 6:37 PM
Maybe they could get all the money he’s collected for any future campaign – that way he’ll never be able to run for office again.
He has already disgraced himself, but I could think of a few things…
jdawg on October 12, 2007 at 6:41 PM
I’m sure many taxpayers wouldn’t mind seeing that money go to the troops he slandered — I know I would rather it go to them, than to that worthless liar.
Rick on October 12, 2007 at 6:48 PM
I think one of the Haditha Marines should move to Johnstown and run for his seat in 2008!
Zorro on October 12, 2007 at 6:59 PM
If he’s covered under the Speech or Debate Clause, then perhaps there won’t be monetary damages OR a groveling, humiliating apology….even though there should be BOTH.
I hope he gets nailed.
dont taze me bro on October 12, 2007 at 7:03 PM
Murtha was in his rights to critisize government policy. But he took it a step further and slandered private american citisens who were facing a trial that could have imprioned them for a long period of time.
He used his political postion to harm the well being of private citisens. That is not in any strech political speech.
William Amos on October 12, 2007 at 7:03 PM
Clearly Mutha’s comments constitute a “breach of peace”.
paulsur on October 12, 2007 at 7:08 PM
Murtha should be made to stand in front of a formation of Marines returning from Iraq, with those he slandered in the front rank. He should be made to apologize to the individuals involved, the Marine Corps and the Nation.
The FCC should require all networks to carry the apology live and have it repeated on each newscast for the next 72 hours. Finally, Murtha’s bank account should be emptied – donated to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
MCPO Airdale on October 12, 2007 at 7:16 PM
Okinawa Jack can invoke the Speech And Debate Clause until he’s blue in the face. It’s settled law that it doesn’t apply to “political” statements made off the floor or outside of committee. It’s a complete non-starter for him to argue that the Speech And Debate Clause protects comments he made in a freaking news conference.
Centerfire on October 12, 2007 at 7:30 PM
And that’ll make page A 20 of the NY Times and won’t be carried by any MSM network
Defector01 on October 12, 2007 at 7:30 PM
This makes three suits against him now?
I call that a good start.
petefrt on October 12, 2007 at 7:38 PM
Murtha should be given a complete pass. His ignominy should be ignored but for the impotent rage of a narrow group of activist conservatives, while the accused Marines’ names are placed alongside Lt. Calley or Jenjis Khan. Murtha should be forced sit in his cozy Capitol Hill office for life, sucking on the public teat and shoveling out pork in exchange for campaign contributions. Maybe he should even move into the Senate.
Oh wait, that’s what will happen, not what I want to have happen.
What I want, we don’t do in this country any more. Sad.
a4g on October 12, 2007 at 7:44 PM
As an old Marine of the MF’s vintage, give me just 5 minutes alone with him and I guarantee he will see the light and beg to write the checks.
1969-1973
Marine mos- 8541
Semper Fi.
1sttofight on October 12, 2007 at 8:20 PM
Agreed and then vote him out of office.
allrsn on October 12, 2007 at 8:22 PM
This will be a very interesting case. I hope the Marines win. But it will be hard to do because meathead Murtha has the defense that he cannot be sued for what he says in an official capacity.
Nevertheless, even if the courts will not entertain the case, it calls more attention to what a total dirtball Murtha is and that makes it worthwhile no matter what the outcome.
Maxx on October 12, 2007 at 8:42 PM
Murtha will never apologize, and no one in the MSM will ever bring it up. It will just disappear down the memory hole. If any more conservatives confront him, he’ll just invoke the “CHICKENHAWK!” defense whilst making a beeline for the elevator.
What a douchebag.
Kensington on October 12, 2007 at 9:47 PM
I listened to the interview on Hannity on the way home from work today (lots of time in Atlanta traffic).
If you heard it and weren’t a bit teary-eyed, then you aren’t an American.
It was quite moving and powerful, especially when the callers chimed in.
On the Murtha note, that fat bastard should be raked through the muck.
HarryBalzac on October 12, 2007 at 9:53 PM
Sue his shirt off. And his pants. But PLEASE Allah, do not post the pics of it.
MalkinFan on October 12, 2007 at 11:03 PM
I can only wish this trial gets the same publicity as the infamous OJ trial.
Now I know for sure how ignorant and probably uneducated and misled liberals are.
El Guapo on October 12, 2007 at 11:15 PM
Oh, I suspect there’s some income there from other sources. I seem to recall an FBI sting concerning some Arab oil money, … Yes, he bailed on it but none too convinvingly for me not to think he’s got a hand in the till somewhere.
IrishEyes on October 12, 2007 at 11:18 PM
Although he may try to invoke the speech & debate clause, that would likely be well outside what the actual S&D clause would cover, as I’m not sure that either slander or libel could ever be considered protected speech under any circumstances.
Guess the question then becomes, how much damage was done, and what monetary value could be abscribed to the damages.
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on October 13, 2007 at 12:06 AM
Here is to Murtha losing a multi-million dollar suit. Cheers!
Tim Burton on October 13, 2007 at 12:14 AM
First make him apologize abjectly, then bankrupt his butt, and finally give him 5 years of latrine duty at a Marine base with a toothbrush for a mop and a teaspoon for a scoop.
Herikutsu on October 13, 2007 at 12:41 AM
Murtha won’t win with the Clause, because issuing judgments of guilt or innocence for those under court martial ain’t part of his official duties as a Congressman. He was way out of bounds with the remarks… and claiming he was “against the war” at the time doesn’t cut it.
A good piece on the Clause here.
T J Green on October 13, 2007 at 12:50 AM
More than being on an FBI tape holding out for a higher bribe?
I doubt this jacka$$ has any sense of disgrace.
91Veteran on October 13, 2007 at 1:06 AM
This is what I was thinking. Each of those involved in suits are likely facing a lot of hate from the left by going after that doddering fool. They should state that 50% of any monetary judgment won would be donated to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
Then see how the left could attack that.
91Veteran on October 13, 2007 at 1:13 AM
Murtha will never never ever appologize.
Clark1 on October 13, 2007 at 1:52 AM
I hope they sue Murtha right out of office! The loudmouth bully has humiliated and insulted the military to the point that my blood pressure goes up every time I see his fat face! Enough of this guy!
pilamaye on October 13, 2007 at 7:55 AM
He needs to be impeached and publicly excoriated for his acts.
Congressmen must be held to higher standard than the rest of us due to their position, but even holding this piece of trash Murtha to the standard of an ordinary citizen, his behavior deliberately damaged these marines and our war effort.
Back in the days of the civil war President Lincoln dealt with people like Murtha quite effectively. Murtha’s ilk were called Copperheads.
Well perhaps the press coverage of his arrival at his deposition will be interesting…
dogsoldier on October 13, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Considering that they’re attacking Rush for auctioning the Reid letter and giving every cent to charity (that story’s in Headlines, if you haven’t seen it), liberals would still attack these Marines for defending themselves against Murtha’s baseless smears.
ReubenJCogburn on October 13, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Anyone want to hazard a guess at which one of Nancy Pelosi’s close advisors in Congress gave her the idea that pissing off the Turks with a resolution about the Armenian genocide of 100 years ago would be a really clever idea right about now!?
Playing politics to cut off a main supply line to the troops in combat when they are on the way to victory… sound like an idea that would come from the same person who advised Bill Clinton that sending armor with our expeditionary force to Somalia would be “too provocative”?
That would be Congressman John Murtha, who is working for defeat of his country in Iraq. Victory would be a disaster for him and his fellow Democrats, and if you give a Democrat a choice between Party and Country, Country is going to come in second every damn time!
drunyan8315 on October 13, 2007 at 12:51 PM
I hope they all sue his fat a$$, and I hope Justin runs against Murtha with the cash.
/I can dream, can’t I?
Wanderlust on October 13, 2007 at 9:51 PM
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