Report: Marine corps investigating nude photo scandal

The Defense Department is conducting an investigation of a number of Marines who allegedly disseminated nude photos of female service members online.

A story on the investigation was published Saturday by The Center for Investigative Reporting and was completed by the nonprofit news organization The War Horse, which reports on war trauma.

According to the report, members of the Marine Corps posted the photos in a Facebook group called “Marines United,” which has almost 30,000 followers.

{mosads}Enlisted members of the Marine Corps and officers on active duty were among the women in the photographs.

A spokesman for the Marine Corps confirmed to the Marine Corps Times that it was conducting an investigation. The Corps’s top general denounced the alleged behavior, but did not comment on the investigation.

“The success of every Marine, every team, every unit and command throughout our Corps is based on mutual trust and respect,” Commandant Robert Neller told the newspaper. “I expect every Marine to demonstrate the highest integrity and loyalty to fellow Marines at all times, on duty, off-duty and online.” 

According to the original report by the War Horse, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service launched an investigation into the photos after the reporter reached out to the Marine Corps on Jan. 30 regarding the photos.

Google and Facebook shut down the accounts of users who posted the pictures to the group, though additional photos were later posted.

A 10-page document from the Marine Corps, obtained by the War Horse, includes a list of talking points about its handling of the reported photos, in addition to how victims should report crimes.