ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national public-interest legal advocacy firm today announced that Colonel Christopher Conlin, USMC has recommended that LtCol Chessani face a general court-martial. The Law Center has been representing Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, USMC since January of this year. Chessani is charged with “dereliction of duty” and “orders” violations. These charges stem from a battle in the insurgent held town of Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005. Marines were alleged to have purposely killed Iraqi civilians and that their officers were involved in a “cover-up” of the incident.
Richard Thompson, the President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center commented, “This recommendation deals more with political correctness than criminality. Colonel Chessani is chastised in the report because he had more confidence in his men than in insurgent propaganda. It glorifies paper pushing over fighting and has the unintended consequence of dampening the spirit of the most ferocious fighters on Earth.”
Continued Thompson, “This fight is about the future of the American fighting man. If good officers and men like LtCol Chessani can’t react to combat situations the way they were trained, if our young soldiers are forced to hesitate in battle because they may be criminally charged by their own government, they will be killed. Further, if the higher command doesn’t correct the injustice of this flawed recommendation, ultimately there will be no aggressive military left to defend the life of our nation.”
This case is the consequence of Congressman Murtha’s politically motivated statements against LtCol Chessani and his Marines, as well as, the terrorist inspired story in Time Magazine. Like the great tradition of the Marines, the Law Center will continue to press this fight forward until we have won victory for LtCol Chessani.
The maximum punishment at a General Court-Martial that Chessani could face is dismissal (an officer’s equivalent of a dishonorable discharge), loss of retirement, and imprisonment of up to 3 years.
In another case dealing with the same incident, a different Investigating Officer, LtCol Ware, USMC recommended in the strongest possible terms that murder charges be dropped against LCpl Sharrat. In his report, LtCol Ware surmised, “The government’s version may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and its mission in Iraq. Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy.” This echoes a sentiment that the Law Center has been making since the beginning of its defense of LtCol Chessani.
LtGen Mattis will be the final arbiter of whether this case against LtCol Chessani goes to general courts-martial, or goes away. LtGen Mattis is not bound by this recommendation from Col Conlin. The Law Center has five days to write a rebuttal to the report. The Law Center will refute and rebut what it believes are clear factual errors and legal conclusions that render the recommendation invalid in its opinion.
Brian Rooney, one of the attorneys assisting in the case commented, “We are disappointed by this recommendation, but not deterred. I always told Marines in Iraq that in the final analysis it is better to be judged by 12 then carried by 6. If we are forced to go to a general court-martial, LtCol Chessani will be judged by a true jury of his peers—many will be combat veterans themselves. We are very comfortable with that scenario.”
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.