Navy SEAL Found Not Guilty In Alleged Beating Of Iraqi Terrorist

Last November the Navy charged 3 SEALS with giving a terrorist a fat lip. They each elected to assert their innocence and face court martial to clear their names. The first of the three has been found not guilty.

The trial of three SEALs, the Navy's elite special forces unit, in the abuse case has outraged many Americans who see it as coddling terrorists.

A six-man jury found Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas, 29, of Blue Island, Illinois, not guilty of charges of dereliction of duty and attempting to influence the testimony of another service member. The jury spent two hours deliberating the verdict.

"It's a big weight off my shoulders," a smiling and composed Huertas said as he left the courthouse at the U.S. military's Camp Victory on Baghdad's western outskirts.

Huertas said he plans now to continue with his military career and "to go home and kiss my wife."

Huertas was the first of three SEALS to face a court-martial for charges related to the abuse incident and the verdict was a major blow to the government's case.

The piece of crap the SEALS are alleged to have smacked around was involved in the murder and subsequent burning of 3 contractors in Fallujah in 2004.

I'm sure John Murtha is spinning in his grave with outrage that these cold blooded murders got away with it. Also, no word from Markos "Screw Them" Moulitsas.

Via @JustKarl

posted by DrewM. at 10:35 AM

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