Murtha must testify in defamation case

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070928/ap_on_go_co/murtha_suit

WASHINGTON - A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition about his comments alleging "cold-blooded murder and war crimes" by unnamed soldiers in connection with Iraqi civilian deaths.

A Marine Corps sergeant is suing the 18-term congressman for making the charge, which the soldier claims is false. Murtha, who opposes the Iraq war, made the comment during a May, 2006 Capitol Hill news conference in which he predicted that a Pentagon war crimes investigation will show Marines killed dozens of innocent Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005.

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U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer said the congressman might be right, but said she won't know for sure unless Murtha explains himself. She did not set a date for Murtha's testimony but said she would also require him to turn over documents related to his comments.

"You're writing a very wide road for members of Congress to go to their home districts and say anything they choose about private persons and be able to do so without any liability. Are you sure you want to do that?" Collyer said, adding later, "How far can a congressman go and still be protected?"

Collyer said she was troubled by the idea the lawmakers are immune from lawsuits regardless of what they say to advance their political careers.



NYvet comment: Don't yell fire in a crowded theater Mr Murtha

Wonder how * and crew will suppress the evidence?

bush's administration does not have to answer subpoenas but Murtha does. President Clinton had to testify in a sex case, but bush and his monester elite don't. Guess if you are a democrat the law applies but now being a republican you are ABOVE the law.

Bushie Judge Collyer picked an odd case to test her theory of congressional immunity. Nobody disputes that those Marines killed those people.

I smell an ambitious RW Judge seeking an appellate slot from which to wreak Sentellian havoc.

Before the Marine Corps had a chance to conduct an investigation, Rep Murtha was on the floor of the House stating that the Marines in question were guilty of the accusations.



Remember, we ARE innocent until proven guilty here in the US.