Rink
08-15-2006, 01:11 AM
Lawmaker Apologizes To Marines For Remarks
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 15, 2006; A03
A Republican congressman apologized yesterday to the Marines under investigation in the killings of two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, last November, saying that statements he made about the case were taken out of context and that he did not mean to imply the Marines were guilty of wrongdoing.
Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) issued the apology as part of an agreement with lawyers for Marine Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, who alleged that Kline had damaged Wuterich's reputation.
Wuterich, through his lawyers, has denied any wrongdoing in the Haditha case. None of the Marines involved has been charged.
Wuterich took the unusual step earlier this month of filing a federal lawsuit against Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), alleging that statements Murtha made about the Haditha deaths were libelous. Murtha said after the lawsuit was filed that he did not mean to prejudge Wuterich, but the representative has not responded to a settlement offer that seeks a similar public apology, according to Wuterich's attorneys, Mark S. Zaid and Neal A. Puckett. The lawyers set last Friday as a deadline for Murtha's response.
More on this Story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401003_pf.html)
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 15, 2006; A03
A Republican congressman apologized yesterday to the Marines under investigation in the killings of two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, last November, saying that statements he made about the case were taken out of context and that he did not mean to imply the Marines were guilty of wrongdoing.
Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) issued the apology as part of an agreement with lawyers for Marine Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, who alleged that Kline had damaged Wuterich's reputation.
Wuterich, through his lawyers, has denied any wrongdoing in the Haditha case. None of the Marines involved has been charged.
Wuterich took the unusual step earlier this month of filing a federal lawsuit against Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), alleging that statements Murtha made about the Haditha deaths were libelous. Murtha said after the lawsuit was filed that he did not mean to prejudge Wuterich, but the representative has not responded to a settlement offer that seeks a similar public apology, according to Wuterich's attorneys, Mark S. Zaid and Neal A. Puckett. The lawyers set last Friday as a deadline for Murtha's response.
More on this Story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401003_pf.html)