Pastor Fights Fine for Pre-War Iraq Trip

From the Associated Press:

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey pastor who defied government restrictions and traveled to Iraq in 2003 to protest the pending U.S.-led invasion wants a judge to declare the fine he received unconstitutional.

Lawyers for the Rev. Frederick Boyle, 58, were expected to ask a federal judge on Wednesday to nullify the $6,700 fine and declare the travel restrictions violate his constitutional rights.

His lawyers also argue Boyle is being singled out due to his vocal opposition to the war, and was never given the opportunity to defend himself.

"Rev. Boyle never received an opportunity to make his case and was fined for exercising his constitutional rights," said Jonathan Hafetz, a lawyer from the Brennan Center for Justice, a New York-based advocacy group, who is arguing Boyle's case. "It appears as if this case is an attempt by the government to punish a religious leader for speaking out against the war."