Justice Dept. attorney: Murtha should be immune from Haditha lawsuit
It looks as if justice may once again prevail… for John Murtha. For the troops he defamed, probably not so much:
A Justice Department attorney said U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., should be immune from a defamation lawsuit filed by a former Marine from western Pennsylvania.
Essentially, Murtha’s attorney said the lawsuit filed in September by Justin Sharratt, of Canonsburg, should be dismissed for the same reasons that a federal appeals court struck down a similar suit by Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, of Meriden, Conn., last week.
The court ruled that Murtha couldn’t be sued because he was acting within the scope of his employment when he accused Wuterich’s squad of killing innocent civilians “in cold blood” in Haditha, Iraq in 2005.
Ah to be a member of Congress, where the “scope of your employment” is ruining the scope of somebody else’s employment in a consequence-free environment.
I’d urge all of you to use this product, but you can’t because it’s only available to select members of government:
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Categories: Haditha, John Murtha
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But…but..didn’t at least one member of congress come out in relation to Bush/Cheney prosecutions and say that “no one is above the law”?
Or are congress critters immune from that whole equal under the law nonsense?
Since when is slandering someone acting within the “scope of one’s employment”?
But attorneys that advised on the enhanced interrogations should not? Time to tear this government down and start over.
By the way, whatever became of old “cold cash” Jefferson?
Murtha is a great American! Why he’d give you the scales off his back!
Murtha is getting old. Maybe we won’t have to worry about him much walking the Earth too much longer. He certainly doesn’t look healthy. Anyone who actually thought he would be prosecuted was dreaming. He is a Dem and wasn’t even prosecuted thirty some-odd years back for Abscam. He is the Teflon Congressman.
Murtha should be sued into oblivion. This slob comedy of a human, I use this sparingly,should be made to pay for the slander against the Marines. Thank You PA.
Well, then, what about the officials in the Bush Administration that Duh One wants to go after? Shouldn’t they be immune as well?
Rogue–I hope you’re happy. I’m gonna be saying that to myself all day…! HAHAHAA
..give you the scales off his back…LOL
and was re-elected why?
oh yeah….
Dumba$$ Voters 08′
I am sick to my stomach. Murthat is a piece of &*^%.
And how did he get into office? Oh, and how has he remained in office? Is there a Constitutional mandate that he remain in his seat? Nope. He continues to get elected by his constituency, as per the Pennsylvania and United States Constitutions. This tells you something about our country, doesn’t it?
Simple equation (even for lgm)
D = pass
R = guilty
Apply this formula to any politician and there you have it. Nothing else matters.
This guy is like a snake, like an Obama clone, no matter what happens he squeezes out of trouble
This merely illustrates why Batman is essential. Systems fail. When they do, we need someone to transcend the system and force the correct result. In this case, we merely need the Batman to beat the crap out of Murtha and force a confession. It may be a dream, but it keeps me warm at night.
When you are a Congressman…
duh.
So accusing innocent people to whip up the left is within the scope of employment for congress?
Excuse me but, how is this in compliance with the Constitution’s 14th Amendment of Equal Protection Clause and whatever happened to the part about “all men are created equal”?
This needs to be appealed to the Supreme Court. It’s ridiculous.
NO ONE should be above the law. Oh, sorry, I forgot…different rules apply to Democrats. I wonder if Murtha had been a Republican. Hmmm…
Unless you’re from IL, where we throw all corrupt governors into the clink.
yet another straw on the camel’s back
tick tick tick
He’d have already been swingin’ in the breeze…
On April 23rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:
Murtha is a great American! Why he’d give you the scales off his back!
Thanks I need that
Does this mean the Clinton administration is free from prosecution for assisting the wrong side in Bosnia?
Time to send more money to Bill Russell.
OK, rhetorical (and futile) question…
How do we get the politicians to take responsibility?
The key is that he is trying to use the Debate clause as cover…
But… just what Issue was he debating at the time? What issue was before Congress that he made these statements? Was the talking to other politicians?
No, he made this accusation on a TV show, when there was nothing in front of Congress that this “issue” had a thing to do with.
Might be interesting to see video of a foam flecked Murtha yapping about how no one is above the law.
“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?”
Patrick Henry
“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.”
Patrick Henry
Good old John Murtha gets the old “nod, nod, wink, wink” from the justice department as they take care of their own federal buddies. Whew, now with that off his mind, John can get back to his serious work of gobbling up pork for airports in the middle of nowhere and spewing hate and disgusting vitriol at our military.
looks like they can’t find a a judge that isn’t a libturd…hang the traitor.
Paraphrasing: “once a Marine, always a Marine.” Plus…”there is always an exception to every rule.”
Never trust a man that looks like Ward Bond’s and Helen Thomas’ illegitimate son.
all will be addressed in due time:
being turned away at the gate will be such a bummer, eh John?
To quote Kenya Slim: they did win the election and can do anything they please, that Bill of Negative Rights be damned. The American people did give him the Justice Department along with their souls-if they will get 30 pieces of silver in exchange is to be seen.
I wouldn’t consider him as a Marine – more of a wanna-be marine, or a MINO. To my everlasting shame, I have a brother who fits in that category.
Marine or Not. He’s an a$$ (being as nice as possible so read the worst insult you can imagine in to my last) and deserves to be sued to the poorhouse for what he did to those guys.
Apparently the only way to get rid of Murtha is if Unemployment rises in Pennsylvania, isn’t he making sure he has brought home enough pork to tide them over?
Yep they are at 7% but they are expecting bunches of stimulus money. Money -Money!
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/02/pennsylvanias_unemployment_rat.html
And not the kind of Marine that J-Nap fears.
So, why don’t the marines sue the state of Ohio? A state official slandered them, therefore the state should be held responsible.
Perhaps Holder should get a second opinion, like on the question of a voting member of Congress for DC.
That is NOT what the Constitution says! It reads:
1. It’s not an arrest; it’s a lawsuit.
2. It’s not a lawsuit for statements made in “any Speech or Debate in either House.” It’s a lawsuit about a waste of life slandering innocent Marines.
This is a miscarriage of justice waiting to happen,…AGAIN!
Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. WE are the civilian national security force. Murtha is scum, and the Obama Department of Justice attorney supporting his slander is worse. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST!!!!
ECS
Murtha is a dirtbag and it’s the rest of society that needs immunity so they don’t catch whatever he has.
Not to worry. Based on legal precedent set this week by outDear Leader, as soon as a Conservative becomes President we can prosecute Murtha retroactively, because of the illegal opinion made by this Justice Department lawyer.
/sarc
I certainly ROGER that not all change is good. I found that out in the NAVY under Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
Ask Coca-Cola about NEW Coke back in 1985……..
Out of control, unaccountable, irresponsible. This is why we need, first and foremost, government reform. Without accountability, tyranny reigns supreme.
Picture this: freezers and bras stuffed with cash, spouses of politicians getting billions in kickbacks, getting caught on tape tentatively agreeing to sell your office to Arab sheiks, African presidents giving your family free Mercedes Benz’ – and all with no fear of repercussion. It’s all good when you’re a “Democrat” ensconced in power. Insulated from any negative consequences and you don’t even have to show up for work! How great is it to be a guvment worker?
Not exactly true – the JD lawyer who made the opinion will be prosecuted, but Ol’ Lard-butt will skate again.
Evil person that I am, I offer a suggestion given this ruling. Get some stalwart GOP member in the House to get recognition from the chair on the House floor and just start making accusations against Murtha. Ones along the line of he runs over pets, steals from the church collection plate to support his drug habit etc, And when Johnny Boy starts screaming slander, hit him with the hypocrite label.
An even better question is: When did members of Congress become employees?
Also off topic, but just had to mention, My folks just paid off the mortgage on the family farm. The parts of the homestead(est 1865)that had to be sold during the Great Depression are back in the family.
If lies and slander fall within the scope of a congressman’s employment, why wouldn’t bribe taking and influence peddling fall within the same scope? I mean, there’s been a long tradition of congressmen using lies and slander to score cheap political points. But there’s been just as long a tradition of congressmen selling their office for money and favors.
If the court can excuse slander because a congressman’s right to score cheap political points against the war is more important than the right to a fair trial, why not excuse any other crimes and misdemeanors that a congressman may commit in the course of his employment?
I truly hope the Sgt in the Conn lawsuit appeals the decision of the lower court, but I would not hold my breath that the outcome would be any different.
…Unless you are an elite Democrat member of Congress, whose purpose in life is to deceive, lie, steal, and obfuscate for self enrichment, and whose position necessitates the trampling of citizens rights to further the cause of the party.
Perks of the position include immunity from prosecution, and the option of feigning unbridled outrage at the mere suggestion of impropriety.
Members of congress can lie and defame us without worry.
But if we tell the truth about them we can expect a visit from the DHS goon squad.
You nailed it! Time for term limits!!
Two week notice would be better.
On April 23rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm, DamnCat said:
Members of congress can lie and defame us without worry.
But if we tell the truth about them we can expect a visit from the DHS goon squad.
Yes this is true but given the head of the DHS, lack of basic geography skills SEE 9/11 terrorist came from Canada…well we have good odds, she wouldn’t be able to find any of us especially if we started using Asian surnames LOL!
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/21/guess-who-wants-asians-to-change-their-names/
This just goes to show that bottom feeders like Murtha are a “protected class” who can never be challenged or taken down. That is perhaps why he keeps winning in his Congressional district. A lot of American voters would rather take a bribe or a promise from dirtbags like Murtha than explore the implications of keeping him in office… or better yet firing his a$$.
It’s just a disgrace that Murtha gets a free pass for besmirching the reputation of a decent Marine just so he could score political points. Murtha, a Marine himself, should know better.
On April 23rd, 2009 at 4:30 pm, emjem24 said:
“Murtha, a Marine himself, should know better.”
Most Marines I know consider him an Ex-Marine. So far about the only ones on that roster are Murtha and Oswald.
emjem24, trust me – and you can ask any real Marine about this – Murtha is NOT a Marine. He wouldn’t make a pimple on a REAL Marine’s butt!
John Murtha is a traitor – by giving our enimies with which we were at war, the most potent recruiting propaganda ever spewed from orifice of a Congressman. We need to commission a study to find out how many American troops were killed by “Murtha’s army,” and interview some of his Arab troops for some TV ads.
Murtha ’s Army soldier in Iraq, “Yes, I plant bomb and kill many American GIs because John Murtha say they are murderers of Arab women and children at Haditha. Why would John Murtha lie to us? So we kill Americans it is justice.”
And Murtha is not the only one in Congress who endangered the lives of our GI’s. We have had leaks of invasion plan published by the NYT, leaks about tracking Osama by his satellite phone, “human” shields from the US who went to Iraq to give aid to our enemies. Jay Rockafeller memo that leaked revealed Dems plan to use secret info to damage Bush and the war. Find a Dem official that is NOT a traitor – and Leiberman is an independent FYI.
He only TALKED about how he would take bribes. He never actually took any that we can prove. He slipped the noose only becuase the operation was revealed before he had a chance to do it.
FYI the military lawyers who prosecuted the Marines who fought at Haditha were an absolute disgrace and were condemned by the Judges for fabricating these cases for political reasons – kinda like Duke U and how they tried to ruin the lives of the Lacrosse players. Who wants to bet Nifong will be pardoned by BO? Probably won’t happen if Nifong paid his taxes.
If they cannot go after him for his slanderous remarks as a member of Congress, if there was nothing pending or before the elected body on this subject per se – then why can’t they sue him personally? ‘Bambi says words matter – I think it’s time they did too.
I don’t feel I can buy products or services from his neck of the woods any longer? I’ll drive a 1000 miles out of my way this summer just to get even. Cutting off funding of rooms, meals, and gasoline taxes is my only recourse. But, I want his constituents to know why I’m avoiding them and it’s name is Murtha.
When Murtha came to Mn to campaign for Coleen Rowley ( another traitor who was a pencil pusher for the FBI, if you remember) they came to our VFW and lied about the use of our upper room to ask about veteran’s issues. No question was asked and it was a political rah rah, when caught about it, nothing was said by the media.I and other Marines attended the meeting, and they wouldn’t say the Pledge to the Flag. We booed. When Murtha came to glad hand I refused to take his hand and said I thought he was a traitor and an insult to the Corps. As a Marine, I wouldn’t touch his hand. But, I am sad how our country is turning and how many people accepted the pig who is CIC…. Yes, he’s a pig and not worthy of my saluting him. He has besmirched the office and is not worthy of any honor. IMHO, of course.
Get over it people. You can’t sue animals.
Good for your folks! And congratulations!
I sure wish I had a chance to meet John Murtha in person. What an honor…to be able to stand close to this man…and spit in his face. Maybe I would even put a plug of Retfireman’s chew in my cheek first.
Hoorah Marine! I was an Army liasion at Landstuhl from 2003-2006 and got to see first hand the professionalism of the Marine liasion unit at the hospital. Literally makes me sick that my old colleague Bill Russell didn’t unseat that pig. Hey PA….pull your head out of your arsch and get rid of Murtha!
Russell needs to try again…and we need to support him, big time!! One way or another, Murtha must go. I prefer feet first, but being defeated would do just fine.
So the Justice Dept. believes that launching unsubstantiated accusations is within the scope of an elected offical’s employment??? That’s part of what we are paying them to do for us??? Ha! Who am I kidding…that seems to be the ONLY thing most of them do!!! This is no surprise.
Some days I think we need to scout out our own Formosa island as a fall back position–just in case.
Nah, no fall back to Formosa… as we learned… no retreat , just relocate and attack again. Or we’re surrounded?.. Good, we know where they are… start firing!
Congressman Murtha, I recommend that you read Vince Flynn’s “Term Limits”.
“The court ruled that Murtha couldn’t be sued because he was acting within the scope of his employment when he accused Wuterich’s squad of killing innocent civilians “in cold blood” in Haditha, Iraq in 2005.”
NO! No he was not! He used the power of his position to exercise his personal opinion, based on a news column before any investigations were complete. He accused and judged the Marines guilty in the public form.
Mr Murtha is a despicable human, a traitor to the nation.
And don’t forget that a federal appeals court ruled for Murtha in the lawsuit filed by Wuterich just 10 days ago. Murtha wins on every front. I don’t know how this “man” (term used loosely) looks himself in the mirror every morning.
That just lifted my spirit this Friday morning. Thank you.