Suit Against Murtha Faces Steep Legal Hurdle

• By John Bresnahan
• Roll Call Staff
• Aug. 14, 2006, Midnight

A lawsuit charging Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) with libel and invasion of privacy over his comments about an alleged massacre of Iraqi civilians by U.S. Marines last year is likely to be dismissed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, a law that protects lawmakers from being sued for actions related to their official duties, according to a leading expert on the law.