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The Facebook
group, called "Marines United," is reported to have nearly
30,000 followers, including active-duty U.S. Marines, Marine
Corps veterans and British Royal Marines.
"If we can't crack Facebook, how are we supposed to be able to
confront Russian aggression and cyber hacking throughout our
military?" Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand asked during a
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing.
Gillibrand said online harassment had become evident as early as
2013 and military leaders were made aware of it but have still
been unable to stop
"I don't have a good answer for you," the Commandant of the
Marine Corps General Robert Neller said. "We've got to change,
and that's on me."
Neller has vowed to hold those responsible for the photo sharing
accountable and change the culture behind it.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that the scandal could
have an impact on recruiting women, and called it "devastatingly
bad."
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) has opened an
inquiry into the matter.
Acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley said more than 50 calls had
been received on an NCIS tip line so far and that the scandal
could involve more websites.
U.S Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in a statement last week
that personnel involved in any alleged sharing of nude photos of
female colleagues were guilty of "egregious violations of the
fundamental values."
The U.S. Code of Military Justice explicitly outlaws
distribution of sexually explicit photos of others without their
consent as an offense punishable by court-martial.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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