FORMER MURTHA AIDE SUPPORTS SSGT FRANK WUTERICH

Defend Our Marines ^ | October 23, 2011 | David Allender

[jazusamo]

In a shocking development , John Hugya, former aide to the late Congressman John Murtha, announced his support for SSgt Frank D. Wuterich, the last of the Haditha Marines awaiting exoneration.

The statements by John Hugya were reported by Philip Petrunak in the Somerset County Daily American on October 20, 2011.

According to the article, Hugya said "that he supports Wuterich and believes he should be exonerated. Hugya added that if Wuterich is convicted, the president should pardon him."

In May 2006, Hugya's boss at the time, John Murtha, charged that SSgt Wuterich had led a squad of rampaging Marines in Haditha, killing civilians in “cold blood.”

By 2008, seven of the eight Marines charged in the incident had been exonerated. Only one Marine, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, still awaits trial.

SSgt Wuterich's trial is scheduled to commence on January 4, 2012, a date after all US forces reportedly will leave Iraq. As DOM previously reported (see SSgt Frank Wuterich and Our Future in Iraq ), the entire Haditha fiasco affected negotiations at the very highest level with Iraqi officials over the continued presence of American troops in that country.

[jazusamo]

You’ve stated it well, Forty-Niner.

SSgt Wuterich’s exoneration is a must for not only himself and his family but for every member of our military willing to sacrifice all for our nation.

[xzins]

Hugya said "that he supports Wuterich and believes he should be exonerated. Hugya added that if Wuterich is convicted, the president should pardon him."

The above comment by Hugya is itself evidence that "influence" of a trial should be grounds to consider a trial tampered with and suspect in terms of its ability to deliver justice.

Here a congressional "aide" is calling for influencing a trial. Imagining if this were a congressman, senator, secretary, DOD official, etc., recognizes full well that the neat little definition that the "influence" must be influence only within the direct chain of command is not realistic. To pretend that Murtha, chairman of House military appropriations, wasn't able to influence cases in the military is simply denial of the truth.

The law must be changed to prevent this kind of injustice in the future. Railroading troops at the whim of politicians or other powerful people is not justice by any means.

[RedRover]

My pleasure, Mom! Thanks for posting, jaz!

[4woodenboats]

Good news!

Yep, 6 years of nightmares and betrayals later, staff that knew the 3/1 were being hunted like rabid dogs finally offer a tepid apology slipped amongst open praise for one of this country's notorious traitor.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but would it really be a stretch to request a bucket of water, a plank, and a towel to help determine exactly when Murtha and his staff stopped looking for the truth and took two big steps over the line?

At least the prosecution just had their shoelaces tied together by Hagya.

[RedRover]

I felt the same way, chaplain. As much as the support is welcome, it still stinks and there’s a bigger story here yet to be uncovered.

[RedRover]

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but would it really be a stretch to request a bucket of water, a plank, and a towel to help determine exactly when Murtha and his staff stopped looking for the truth and took two big steps over the line?

Wow, excellent, boats!

[xzins]

I believe that if someone could go through Murtha and associate’s emails on this case that they’d find tremendous manipulation involved in this case that would go from him to the SecDef all the way down to Pendleton.

The cause of buying future justice for our military might just interest a group like Judicial Watch.

[RedRover]

This whole case needs a complete investigation, from start to finish. Sites such as Defend Our Marines can only do so much so I pray others will take an interest.

[jazusamo]

I hear all of you.

There’s no doubt in my mind Murtha never changed his mind and I’m not too sure Hugya hasn’t said this for political expediency though he may have felt this way all along but wouldn’t say so because of his boss and friend.

I also feel like there’s a lot more to this and Murtha was in the middle of it with some high ups and the whole mess should be investigated for the truth. I’ve little doubt the SECDEF and SECNAV were in it up to their ears, among others.

[Saoirise]

You hit the nail on the head!

Yes, the timing in all this is extremely suspicious. Frank should be exonerated and the doors of Leavenworth should be flung open releasing Behenna, Vela, and the rest of those men unjustly persecuted and imprisoned. No doubt the SOFA negotiations impacted and ruined the parole chances for several of the men in Leavenworth. Hopefully they can now be all granted pardons.

[xzins]

Vela’s case, in particular, stinks to high heaven in that it was forced to be a “show trial” held inside Iraq where (1) they could show off for the Iraqis, and (2) most importantly, it limited Vela’s chance to defend himself through access to legal, military, and social support.

Of all those railroaded, what they did to young Vela deserves an immediate pardon from the President.

Just out of curiosity, what would happen if a governor were to pardon a prisoner held on federal charges.

It would at least cause a stir, wouldn’t it?

[bigheadfred]

It is not in a governor’s purview to pardon a federal prisoner. Just the President. If we had one. But I would definitely love to see a governor give it a shot. But it may take some heavier ordinance to get them out of Leavenworth. But now that I have my firewood (finally) for the winter, I ain’t all that busy.