Corey Clagett is now serving an 18-year sentence at Ft. Leavenworth prison and spending 23 hours each day in solitary confinement.
With his family unable to afford to do so and his mother frantically seeking help, my radio audience recently raised the legal funds to hire an outside attorney to appeal his sentencing.
Newly hired attorney Tim Litka dropped this bombshell: "As I began to research the case of Corey, I discovered something which caused my jaw to hit the table. Prior to Corey pleading guilty, two other soldiers had already taken full responsibility for all three Iraqi deaths. The government knew this, his attorney knew this, everybody knew but him, yet they still accepted his guilty plea. I feel he had the right to be told before entering his guilty plea."
The case is gaining bipartisan outrage. Mr. Filner of California donated $500 toward the Clagett legal defense and is arranging for the family to make the trip from South Carolina to Ft. Leavenworth to visit their son, whom they have not seen in over a year. Republican congressional candidate Bob Watkins of California donated $1,000 " and added, "This is a story of due process. This young man chose to defend his country and now he cannot afford to defend himself. It is not right."
Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of California has now assigned two staff members to research the case. Noticeably absent are South Carolina lawmakers.
Corey Clagett was recruited, trained and taught to kill the enemy so that we may each enjoy our American way of life. Now it's time for America to pay its debt of gratitude and allow Corey Clagett to return to his.
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