Blackwater Guards Subpoenaed by Federal Grand Jury

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. has opened an investigation into the role of Blackwater security guards in the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi citizens in September in Baghdad, federal law enforcement sources tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.

A number of Blackwater security guards assigned to the ill-fated convoy have been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury next week.

A Department of Justice spokesperson, Dean Boyd, said, "We do not comment on grand jury investigations."

But sources familiar with the Blackwater case say the guards called to testify were, while present, not those who allegedly fired on any civilians.



Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/11/blackwater-guar.html

[laststeamtrain]

1. Reuters: Grand jury opens Blackwater shooting probe

k&R

<snip>

There are at least three investigations into the incident. The Iraqi government has called the killings deliberate. The U.S. military has said the guards acted without provocation. The New York Times reported that an FBI investigation found at least 14 of the 17 deaths were unjustified.

However, the issue of how U.S. contractors in Iraq could be pursued under U.S. law is murky. A State Department report last month urged more "legal clarity" and said it was unaware of any basis for holding non-U.S. defense department contractors accountable under U.S. law.

The ABC report said five Blackwater guards gave statements to State Department investigators in which they admitted firing their weapons. It said 12 others witnessed events but did not fire, and they gave conflicting statements on whether there were any hostile activities.

A reported focus of probe, a turret gunner named "Paul," said in his statement that he fired in response to small arms fire from a vehicle at the intersection and feared for his life, ABC has reported.

<more>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071119/ts_nm/usa_blackwater_probe_dc&printer=1;_ylt=AmfJCwhZIHz67uC1zakaIUxg.3QA

[maddezmom]

2. NYT- U.S. Prosecutors Subpoena Blackwater Employees

U.S. Prosecutors Subpoena Blackwater Employees

By DAVID JOHNSTON and JOHN M. BRODER
Published: November 20, 2007
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 — Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas to some of the Blackwater employees present at a Sept. 16 shooting in Baghdad in which the company’s security personnel killed 17 Iraqi civilians, lawyers in the case and government officials briefed on the matter said Monday.

The opening of the grand jury inquiry is a significant step in the case because it indicates that prosecutors believe that there is enough evidence of wrongdoing to warrant a formal criminal investigation.

Officials cautioned that the decision to begin a grand jury inquiry did not mean that prosecutors had decided to charge anyone with a crime in what they said was a legally complex case. Some government lawyers have expressed misgivings about whether a federal law exists that would apply to the actions Blackwater employees are accused of committing.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were discussing grand jury matters, would not say exactly how many subpoenas had been issued, but they said the subpoenas were mainly to Blackwater employees who were at the scene of the shooting but did not fire their weapons. The prosecutors are also seeking company records compiled at the time of the shooting as well as employee work histories and military service files.

more:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/washington/20blackwater.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

[maddezmom]

3. kick

[Hissyspit]

4. Reports: Grand Jury Investigating Blackwater Guards

Source: Associated Press

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Reports: Grand jury investigating Blackwater guards

A federal grand jury is investigating the role of Blackwater Worldwide security guards in the deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians, the AP is reporting.

The grand jury, in Washington, is investigating the now-infamous Sept. 16 incident in Baghdad, in which Blackwater guards shot and killed the 17, allegedly in self-defense.

ABC News reported Monday that numerous Blackwater guards had been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury next week.

Blackwater contends that its convoy was attacked before its guards opened fire. However, an Iraqi government investigation concluded that the shootings were unprovoked and Iraqi officials are also pressing for prosecution.

Read more: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/?loc=interstitialskip

[Demeter]

5. Amazing! Who's the Prosecuting Attorney?

Not enough information here! Or at the links!

[Heywood J]

6. "But sources familiar with the Blackwater case say the guards called to testify were, while present,

not those who allegedly fired on any civilians.

Which is as it should be. Why call the guards who opened fire on civilians? What credibility would they really have? What use would they be? What evidence would they be able to provide that the other witnesses couldn't? We know they're going to say they didn't do it - if they were willing to cop to it, there wouldn't be a grand jury in the first place.