Puckett & Faraj

SO2 McCabe was found NOT GUILTY of the alleged abuse of Detainee Ahmed Hashim Abed, after he was detained by SEALs in Iraq. Abed was wanted for masterminding the brutal deaths of four U.S. Citizens who were serving in 2004 as Blackwater Contractors in Fallujah.

The Law Firm of Puckett & Faraj, PC wish to thank all the concerned Americans who have written in to express their support for the SEALs, written letters to the senior Military leaders, or donated to the defense funds of the Navy SEALs. We’d also like to thank the military defense counsels, LT Kevin Shea and LT Kristen Anastos, USN whose dedication to justice was unwaivering.

Every single thought, offering of expertise, letter written on the SEAL’s behalf, blog or social network that spread the word, and donation received for the three SEALs has been very much appreciated. The Law Firm of Puckett & Faraj, PC would especially like to thank those who made extra efforts to set up defense funds for the SEALs, organize rally’s, and take their time, effort and money to raise funds for the SEALs. We could not have succeeded without each and every person who volunteered their time.

Thank you one and all for everything you did. This is a great victory for the SEAL and Special Forces communities. May they all continue to do their jobs, unafraid of prosecution from our own government. Thank you for your service to our country!

Neal A. Puckett, Esq. and Haytham Faraj, Esq.

SO2 McCabe should be given a verdict today by a jury of his peers in Norfolk VA. His trial began on Monday with a full day of motions. The jury was seated on Tuesday and the court-martial began. Witnesses testified yesterday, including the Master at Arms who claims to have witnessed the abuse of the detainee by the SEALs. Closing arguments are scheduled today, followed by jury deliberations. A detailed description of the events in the courtroom by an eyewitness, Attorney Dwight Sullivan, can be found at his blog.

The first Navy SEAL is in military court in Iraq. SO1 Julio Huertas’ court-martial began on Tuesday April 20, 2010. His trial is expected to be immediately followed by the trial of SO2 Jonathan Keefe in Iraq. The remaining SEAL, SO2 Matthew McCabe is in country to provide testimony for his fellow SEALs without the protection of a grant of immunity.

SO2 McCabe’s Attorney, Neal A. Puckett, Esq., will be interviewed on FOX’s “Special Report, with Bret Baier” tonight during the 6PM – 7PM Hour Eastern. Tune in for the latest information on the cases.

SO2 McCabe is in Iraq preparing to testify at the trials of SO1 Huertas and SO2 Keefe, for their role in the alleged detainee abuse coverup. McCabe’s trial remains scheduled for 3 May 2010 in Norfolk, VA.

The senior ranking Sailor, SO1 Huertas,’ trial begins Monday the 19th of April, followed by SO2 Keefe’s trial beginning on the 22nd of April. McCabe is testifying for his fellow SEALs without a grant of immunity but with personal knowledge that he passed a polygraph on whether or not he hit the detainee.

McCabe’s attorney, Neal A. Puckett, will be on FOX’s America’s News HQ with host Shannon Bream, Sunday, April 18, 2010 between 1PM and 1:20PM Eastern. He will be updating the FOX audience on the status of the Navy SEAL cases.

The Law Firm of Puckett & Faraj, PC, continues to prepare for the trial while SO2 McCabe testifies for his fellow SEALs in Iraq. McCabe is accompanied in Iraq by his military attorneys, LT Kevin Shea, USN and LT Kristen Anastos, USN.

SO2 Matthew McCabe will appear at a “Support the Seals” rally and fundraiser in Scottsdale, Arizona on Sat from 11:00 until 2:00 at the Silverleaf Country Club. Many of his supporters have expressed support for this American Hero believing that even if the act was committed, a punch to the gut of a terrorist, it does not deserve a court-martial. They do not care if the allegations are true or not.

Well Matthew McCabe cares! The Law Firm of Puckett and Faraj cares! SO2 McCabe will be making an announcement at the SEAL Rally on Saturday in Scottsdale. He will reveal something he has known since September 1st of last year. Do not miss this surprise that will crack the SEAL cases wide open!

The Virginia Pilot reported there are 5 Sailors who could offer testimony that contradicts the government’s main witness in the accusations of detainee abuse by the Navy SEALS. The government, specifically the convening authority Major General Cleveland, denied their requests for immunity on Friday, Feb 19, 2010. Their attorneys will not let them testify on behalf of the SEALs without a grant of immunity.

Of the five potential witnesses, two of them are officers who led the SEAL detachment that captured Ahmed Hashim Abed in Fallujah, September 2009. The attorney for SO1 Huertas appeared in court on March 12th to request the military judge stop the proceedings due to the lack of immunity granted to these witnesses.

This motion to abate the proceedings argues that a fair trial of the Navy SEALs cannot proceed unless these 5 Sailors are provided immunity and testify. The military judge order Major General Cleveland to grant immunity to the witness by March 26, 2010 or he would stop the court-martial.

**MEDIA ADVISORY**
March 1, 2010    CONTACT: John Donnelly (317) 848-0201

Reps. Burton, Rohrabacher To Renew Call For Exoneration Of Navy SEAL Three On Thursday

Press Conference Will Feature Over A Dozen Retired Special Forces Personnel, Plus An Update On The Pending Trials

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, March 4, at 3:00pm, Reps. Dan Burton (R-IN-05) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA-46), will be joined by over a dozen retired Navy SEALs and other special forces personnel to host a press conference calling for the exoneration of the three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed Hashim Abed.

Who:
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN-05)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA-46)
Neal Puckett, Lt. Col, USMC (Ret.), attorney for Matthew McCabe
Mr. Haytham Faraj, attorney for Matthew McCabe
Captain Larry Bailey, retired U.S. Navy SEAL
Over a dozen retired Navy SEALs and other special forces personnel

When:
Thursday, March 4, 3:00pm

Where:
The Capitol Visitors Center, Room HVC-201
Washington, DC

Background:
In September 2009, SEALs Matthew McCabe, Julio Huertas, and Jonathan Keefe, were part of a team that captured Ahmed Hashim Abed, the al-Qaeda mastermind behind the murder and mutilation of four American contractors in Fallujah in 2004.

In December 2009 and January 2010, the SEALs were arraigned in military court on charges of abusing Abed and giving false statements to investigators.  At that time, Reps. Burton and Rohrabacher, along with 38 other members of Congress, asked Major General Charles Cleveland to drop the charges, but the effort was unsuccessful.

With the trials set to begin for Huertas and Keefe in April and McCabe in May, Reps. Burton and Rohrabacher will again call for their exoneration and show the signatures of over 100,000 Americans on petitions that have called for the same.  The Representatives plan to deliver those signatures to Maj. Gen. Cleveland and Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations.

Neal Puckett and Haytham Faraj, attorneys for Matthew McCabe, will provide an update on the case.

Capt. Larry Bailey, a Navy SEAL and combat veteran who served in the U.S. Navy from 1962-1990 will speak about the impact of this case on SEALs in the battlefield.

Despite the public outcry, the Navy SEALs are still facing special courts-martial after their January 2010 arraignments; SO1 Huertas and SO2 Keefe in April and SO2 McCabe in May 2010.

Military Judges Rule on Motions

The military judge in the Huertas and Keefe case closed the last motion hearing by directing the April courts-martial be held in Baghdad so the Iraqi detainee would be present to testify live in the courtroom.  The government declined to attempt to bring the detainee to Norfolk for the trials.  The military judge determined the defense attorney’s request for the Constitutional right to confrontation required the Iraqi detainee to be present.  The government request to depose the detainee was denied, and the entire cadre to support two special courts-martial will travel to Iraq.

A second military judge, ruling on the McCabe case, upheld the government request for a deposition but did not move the court-martial to Iraq.  The special court-martial will be held in Norfolk, VA, beginning on May 3, 2010.

General Cancels Deposition

Since those two military judge’s rulings, Major General Cleveland has canceled the government trip to Iraq to depose the detainee.   This leaves the SO2 McCabe defense and government teams without the Iraqi detainee’s presence or sworn statements as evidence in the case.

News Release: Neal A. Puckett will appear on FOX News “American Newsroom” this morning at 9:45 AM Eastern time to provide an update on the Navy SEAL case and his client SO2 McCabe.  Tune in for the latest information!

News Release: Neal A. Puckett will appear on FOX News “American Newsroom” this morning at 9:45 AM Eastern time to provide an update on the Navy SEAL case and his client SO2 McCabe.  Tune in for the latest information!