Marine v Ex-Marine

- Round three:

WASHINGTON - A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case brought by a Marine from Connecticut against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition in the case.

Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, from Meriden, is suing the 18-term congressman for alleging "cold-blooded murder and war crimes" by unnamed soldiers in connection with the deaths of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha

The investigating officer overseeing the Haditha case is expected to recommend soon whether Wuterich should stand trial.

...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 that lawmakers are immune from lawsuits regardless of what they say to advance their political careers.

No comment from Murtha yet. However, earlier this month,

JEFF GANNON: In May 2006, you said that Marines killed innocent Iraqis citizens in cold blood at Hatitha. A year later, some of them have been exonerated. At some point are you going to apologize to these men?

REP. MURTHA: The trial's not over yet.

JEFF GANNON: You've spoken out before. You went on national television and called these men "cold blooded killers."

REP. MURTHA: The trial's not over yet.

And just cause it warms my heart to see my fellow GIs use him as a punching bag...

I'll never get tired of that one.