WASHINGTON (AP) – Rep. John P. Murtha was sued for defamation Wednesday by a Marine Corps sergeant under investigation in connection with the deaths of Iraqi civilians in Haditha.

Lawyers for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in a federal lawsuit that the Pennsylvania Democrat falsely accused Wuterich of “cold-blooded murder and war crimes.” But they acknowledged during a news conference that Murtha identified Wuterich’s squad, but not Wuterich by name, when speaking with reporters.

The suit contends Pentagon officials “who have briefed or leaked information to Mr. Murtha deliberately provided him with inaccurate and false information” and that Murtha subsequently “has made repeated statements …. that are defamatory” to Wuterich and his fellow Marines.

The suit accuses Murtha of spreading “false and malicious lies” about Wuterich and his squad that were “intended to serve his own private purpose and interests.” Murtha’s comments, according to the suit, “have been reproduced by countless third parties throughout the world.”

It says many of Murtha’s comments were made outside his “scope of employment as a congressman.”

Murtha, a former Marine and decorated Vietnam War veteran, has been a leading proponent of withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.

The claim for libel and invasion of privacy seeks damages to be determined, but not less than $75,000.