Rep. (Cut and Run) Murtha had better get a lawyer:

“A Marine Corps staff sergeant who led the squad accused of killing two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, will file a lawsuit today in federal court in Washington claiming that Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) defamed him when the congressman made public comments about the incident earlier this year.

Attorneys for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in court papers that Murtha tarnished the Marine’s reputation by telling news organizations in May that the Marine unit cracked after a roadside bomb killed one of its members and that the troops “killed innocent civilians in cold blood.” Murtha also said repeatedly that the incident was covered up.

Murtha argued that the questionable deaths of 24 civilians were indicative of the difficulties and overpowering stress that U.S. troops are facing. The congressman, a former Marine, has been a leading advocate for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.

In the court filing, obtained by The Washington Post, the lawyers say that Murtha made the comments after being briefed by Defense Department officials who “deliberately provided him with inaccurate and false information.” Neal A. Puckett and Mark S. Zaid, suing for libel and invasion of privacy, also wrote that Murtha made the comments outside of his official scope as a congressman.

Telephone calls yesterday to Murtha’s office in Washington were referred to his district office in Pennsylvania, and calls there were not returned. A Marine Corps spokesman declined to comment yesterday on the Haditha investigation or the lawsuit.”

This is welcome move and bad news for Murtha because he’s going to have a hard time defending himself - he told the same lie over and over again on every news program he could get his mug on. This is good because it’s about time someone sued someone for just throwing some crap out there without any evidence or verification. Murtha not only damaged the good Sergeant, but tarnished the Corps and that in itself is worthy of condemnation.

Notice also “Defense Department” officials, “leaked” the bad info to him. No doubt he’ll use, “I was framed” excuse, much like he did when he got caught duringAbscam.