The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Prosecutors have dropped lying charges against two Navy SEALs implicated in a detainee abuse case.
Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe still face courts-martial for allegedly not protecting a reputed terrorist after his capture in Fallujah, Iraq. Huertas faces a second charge of impeding an investigation.
Charges that the men lied to an investigator were formally withdrawn Tuesday in response to earlier testimony from a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent who said he did not read them their rights.
The SEALs and their lawyers met with prosecutors and the judge for the final time in Norfolk before the proceedings move to Camp Victory in Baghdad.
Lawyers for both SEALs requested the change so the men can face their accuser in court. Ahmed Hashim Abed is described as the mastermind of the murders of four American contractors in Fallujah in 2004. The SEALs helped capture him in September.
Keefe's trial is scheduled to start April 19; the case against Huertas will follow.
"I think the government has a very weak case," said Greg McCormack, Keefe's civilian attorney.
A third SEAL, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe, will be court-martialed next month in Norfolk. He allegedly punched Abed in the stomach while Keefe and Huertas were in the room.
The accused SEALs are assigned to SEAL Team 10 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach.
Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com
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Support the Armed Forces!
"good people sleep peacefully in thier beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on thier behalf"
Where to start -
Did you hear about the guy who was pushed out of a helo in Viet Nam for not answering questions? Oh, maybe I shouldn't go there. But wait. Do you think this type of thing just started in VN? Think again. You had a close friend killed and you are suppose to act - how? Maybe you folks who think this behavior is so bad should show us common folk how it's done, join the Armed Forces. A prisoner is hit,oh my, that kind of behavior is not PC. This whole thing is a BOC.
zeolee
It is scary to think there are morons like "zoelee" out there. Why don't YOU go and do something for your country instead of putting down Norfolk PD and the SEAL guys? I agree with the idea that Obama should intercede here as suggested. Like said before, he didn't hesitate to become involved when the black professor's feelings were hurt. Our armed forces deserve 100% support in fighting terrorist low-life. Anyone who cannot subscribe to that should get out of the USA and live somewhere else.
I dont agree with you so I
I dont agree with you so I should move out of the country?? Here in America everyone has a voice, I dont care if you dont want to hear mine, its here and thats what makes this country great.
what you ought to do is some research
before condemning the SEALs out of hand. There is a lot more going on here, including the lying perpetrator. They should have just shot the guy when they had the chance, before taking him into custody where the terrorists are taught to scream "abuse." And comparing them to the Norfolk PD, geez, now that's low.
God Bless Our Troops
God Bless these Men.
How dare we insult these Men that put themselves in harms way.
They are there for you and your Family. They are there so that you may sleep safely in the night.
To those that make these charges, may you never have to ask for their protection again.
God Bless all our Men and Women that serve the United States of America.
SEAL's!
It is UnAmerican to persecute the Brave Men and Women that defend this Nation under impossible ROE, that none of the so called Commanders would likely survive under.
Hey, now that is interesting. /s
Domestic Evil raises its ugly head against our Troops!
Impeding the war on terror...
...that's what the "general" and all the prosecutors and those in the chain of command who recommended this action against the SEALS should be charged with.
yeah, because when seals go
yeah, because when seals go against direct orders and then lie about it they shouldn't face any consequences, might as well make them norfolk cops.
Cops protecting citizens from gang violence and drug dealers
Zeolee,
Being from Chicago I know first hand of Obama's selective social justice policies--he is so ideologically driven that he would rather appease his lefty terrorist friends like Bill Ayers, Black Muslim extremist Louis Farukhan (or any Muslims), Rev Wright, Rev Flieger, or his professor friend-- than do the responsible (easy) thing and intervene on behalf of true heroes.
Ironically, there is an aspect of the SEAL injustice that is present in police forces, especially in high crime areas (like Chicago's south side or areas of Norfolk). Since my uncle was a Chicago policeman during the 60's and 70's in Chicago , I saw-- my whole life how residents in high crime areas, where drugs and gang violence terrorize citizens-- courageous and honorable policemen, many of them white, risk their lives to give extra protection to the innocent citizens--mostly black-- of those high crime areas. My uncle regularly assigned extra men on foot to protect the innocent from their neighbors. Yes, our brave soldiers protect all of us from terrorists--even those amongst us-- and those who criticize then while enjoying their protection. Shame on you.