Thomas More Law Center Sues State Department for Failure to Release Records Relating to the 2005 Insurgent Attack on Marines in Haditha, Iraq
December 6, 2011
Yesterday, the Thomas More Law Center filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of State for failing to provide records in its possession concerning an insurgent attack against U.S. Marines in Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005.The Law Center successfully defended Lt. Col Jeffrey Chessani, USMC, the Battalion Commander of the Marines that responded to the insurgent ambush. The criminal charges against Chessani were dismissed on the grounds of unlawful command influence.
The Law Center’s position throughout the court martial and subsequent administrative hearing was that the prosecution of Chessani and the other Marines under his command were politically motivated and spurred on by anti-war Congressman John Murtha, now deceased. All of Chessani’s superiors congratulated him for a job well done; that is, before the politicians got involved.
