Kay Granger: “I was pleased to hear that Petty Officer Second Class Matthew McCabe was acquitted of all charges against him in…”

“I was pleased to hear that Petty Officer Second Class Matthew McCabe was acquitted of all charges against him in relation to the capture and detention of Ahmed Hashim Abed, a conspirator in the 2004 murder of four U.S. contractors in Fallujah. Mr. McCabe can now rejoin his shipmates, Petty Officer Julio Huertas and Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe, who were both acquitted of all charges as well, with the juries reaching the same verdicts. While these have been acquitted, what is left behind is significant legal debt. All three men sought civilian counsel. Based on the results of these trials, I can understand their decision. Up against the United States Government in court, the soldiers faced prosecution with unlimited resources. Today I am introducing the Service Member Legal Relief Act, which reimburses soldiers who seek the best defense available and are subsequently acquitted, or the charges dropped, in cases relating to the handling of terrorists. Our warfighters face great personal risk every day on the front lines in the global war on terror. They are right to defend themselves in court against egregious claims from known terrorists. We need these men on the front lines to continue battling those who are actively trying to kill Americans at home and abroad. If a court finds that they have done nothing wrong and have simply executed their mission, we should repay their legal fees and get them back into action as quickly as possible.”