FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              CONTACT: Joshua Gillespie
April 8, 2010                                                                                               (317) 848-0201

Rep. Burton Condemns Decision Not to Fully Exonerate Navy SEALs

Indianapolis, IN – Rep. Burton issued the following statement after the Navy dropped several charges against two Navy SEALs who are accused of mistreating terrorist mastermind Ahmed Hashim Abed, the man believed to be responsible for the infamous mutilations of four American contractors in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004.
                                                                           
“I am extremely disappointed by the decision announced yesterday.  While dropping some of the charges against Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe and Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas is a small step in the right direction, it is only a small step.

"I have said repeatedly that what is happening to SEALs McCabe, Keefe and Huertas is completely wrong.  They signed up, not only to serve their country, but to do so in the most dangerous capacity provided by our government.  The commanders gave these men a mission, and they executed it.  They risked their lives to capture a brutal terrorist, and in their success, likely saved the lives of countless others.

"Not unexpectedly, the captured terrorist, a top al-Qaeda leader, followed his own training manual and complained of poor treatment by his captors in the form of a punch to the stomach and a cut lip.  I find it infuriating and unconscionable that the three SEALs are now undergoing court martial as a result of those allegations.  Instead of medals and commendations, our heroes are being met with twisted jurisprudence.  This sends a backwards message to our men and women in the military who are charged with carrying out dangerous missions and must often use aggressive force in dealing with al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

“The fact that the government could not substantiate the charges that were dropped yesterday only underscores the shakiness of the government’s prosecution.  This case should never have been brought in the first place; and I will continue to fight to see SEALs McCabe, Keefe and Huertas completely exonerated on all charges against them. These men are heroes for fighting to preserve our freedoms from American’s most wanted enemies.”


Background:

March 2010 – Rep. Burton held a press conference along with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher from California and over a dozen retired Navy SEALs and other special forces personnel calling for the exoneration of the three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed Hashim Abed.

Janurary 2010 – Rep. Burton responded to a letter from Major General Charles Cleveland's explanation for why three Navy SEALs are currently standing trial for their alleged mistreatment of terrorist leader Ahmed Hashim Abed.  In the letter Burton wrote “Having reviewed all of the material you provided, I still have to strongly disagree with the decision of your officers to pursue punishment of these Navy SEALs.”  

December 2009 – Rep. Burton sent a letter to Major General Charles Cleveland, Commander of Special Operations Command Central, asking for all charges against the SEALs to be dropped.  40 Members of Congress signed onto Rep. Burton's letter, which was also sent to President Obama, Defense Secretary Gates, and Admiral Mullin, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

###