This was expected. Hell, even the Vice President of United States was all over this.
Although I tend to think that if prosecutors could not win this thing while violating the constitutional rights of these individuals, I don’t think they will be able to do much with some other angle. Politically it looks great and helps to appease Iraq, but legally speaking? Whatever.
Why not appeal some rulings on some military cases as well? Lots of political capital there and why stop at contractors? I am sure we could find some soldiers that accidently killed some civilians in Iraq during some fire fight, and I am sure those families would love to sue those soldiers or see them hang? –Matt
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U.S. appeals ruling in Blackwater case that involved a Baghdad shooting
Saturday, January 30, 2010
U.S. appeals ruling in Blackwater case
The U.S. government appealed a ruling by a federal judge that threw out all charges against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards in a Baghdad shooting.
Prosecutors have said the guards killed 14 Iraqi civilians and wounded 20 others in an unprovoked attack in Nisoor Square on Sept. 16, 2007.
In throwing out manslaughter and weapons charges on Dec. 31, U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina ruled that the Justice Department’s investigation had been badly tainted by statements the guards provided under the promise of immunity to State Department investigators after the shooting.
The Justice Department has until March 1 to file court papers explaining its legal arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Outside legal experts have said the government faces a tough task in overturning Urbina’s detailed ruling.
Story here.