DENVER—A federal appeals court in Denver is hearing arguments on whether Congress can make it illegal to falsely claim to be a military hero.
At issue is the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to falsely claim to have been awarded a military medal.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in the case Thursday.
The case centers on Rick Strandlof, a Colorado man who was arrested after claiming he was wounded in Iraq as a Marine and had received military medals. His lawyers have acknowledged the claims were false.
A federal judge ruled the law violated the First Amendment. Prosecutors asked the 10th Circuit to uphold the law.
The law has also been challenged in California.
