Murtha immune from defamation suit

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) is immune from a defamation suit filed against him by a U.S. Marine, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich filed suit against Murtha, claiming that the veteran lawmaker damaged his reputation when he told the press that Wuterich’s squad in 2005 killed civilians in cold blood in Haditha, Iraq.

{mosads}Wuterich argued that Murtha made false and defamatory statements to the press about Wuterich’s and his comrades’ role in the civilian deaths.

Murtha, a former Marine, used his congressional immunity as his defense, arguing that he made those statements to the press in his official capacity as a member of Congress. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Tuesday ruled that Wuterich can’t sue Murtha.

Wuterich is the only person awaiting trial in the Haditha case. A military jury acquitted one of the Haditha defendants, and charges against six others have been dropped. Prosecutors allege that Wuterich’s squad took revenge for a roadside bombing, while defense attorneys argue the civilian casualties couldn’t be avoided during a firefight with insurgents.

Despite the ruling, Murtha has infuriated Marines across the country with his accusations. Thousands of people have signed a petition to strip Murtha of a recent Navy award for distinguished public service that the lawmaker received in early March. Those who signed the online petition are calling on Murtha to apologize for his comments or for the Navy to take away the award.