One of the biggest outrages of the Obama/Holder reign was the prosecution of several Blackwater security contractors over a shootout in Iraq that left a number of presumed Iraqi civilians dead. The contractors were attempting to clear a safe path for a US di-plomat to return to the Green Zone after escaping a car bombing. Amid a traffic jam at a roundabout, they thought they were under attack and responded with counter-fire, killing a number of Iraqis. No evidence of an attack was discovered however and amid the usual outrage from the Iraq government, the men were charged with everything from premeditated homicide to use of military weapons in a felony.
The prosecution seemed wildly over the top at the time. How could they be charged with using weapons the US had provided them? The prosecutors had misused a law designed to target gangbangers using military weapons. It seems obvious but federal judge Royce Lamberth gave them 30 year sentences anyway.
After years in prison, the men achieved a victory of sorts when the Dc Circuit overturned the convictions and draconian sentences. One man who had been convicted of premeditated homicide was given a new trial based on Judge Lamberth's refusal to let him be tried separately. It turns out another defendant had admitted firing the first shot, but that testimony was barred because of the joint trial, which meant he could not introduce evidence that contradicted the prosecution's key charge. You have to wonder what kind of human scum the prosecutors were to proceed in this fashion, knowing they were denying his rights and that a fraudulent version of events was being presented to the jury.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...56bd5568db8_story.html?utm_term=.eb9bb8fdaa0b
Trump and Jeff Sessions now face a major test. These men have suffered mightily at the hands of the government they tried to serve. Even Judge Lamberth said they were basically good guys who panicked in a tough situation. Trump should pardon them or at the least bar a retrial.
The prosecution seemed wildly over the top at the time. How could they be charged with using weapons the US had provided them? The prosecutors had misused a law designed to target gangbangers using military weapons. It seems obvious but federal judge Royce Lamberth gave them 30 year sentences anyway.
After years in prison, the men achieved a victory of sorts when the Dc Circuit overturned the convictions and draconian sentences. One man who had been convicted of premeditated homicide was given a new trial based on Judge Lamberth's refusal to let him be tried separately. It turns out another defendant had admitted firing the first shot, but that testimony was barred because of the joint trial, which meant he could not introduce evidence that contradicted the prosecution's key charge. You have to wonder what kind of human scum the prosecutors were to proceed in this fashion, knowing they were denying his rights and that a fraudulent version of events was being presented to the jury.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...56bd5568db8_story.html?utm_term=.eb9bb8fdaa0b
Trump and Jeff Sessions now face a major test. These men have suffered mightily at the hands of the government they tried to serve. Even Judge Lamberth said they were basically good guys who panicked in a tough situation. Trump should pardon them or at the least bar a retrial.
