US defense chief says viral Marines video 'disturbing'

WASHINGTON

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed Friday he has seen a viral video of a Marine crying in distress after the military service allowed a man she says admitted to sexually assaulting her stay in the force.

Austin said the video was "deeply disturbing," and said he asked his staff to provide him with additional information on the matter.

"We have to get the facts," he said. "We have to understand what just happened."

The woman posted the video on the TikTok social media platform on Thursday.

In it, she can be seen crying, slamming the Marine Corps for its lack of action after she said her commanding general chose to keep her accused rapist in the Corps.

"Not even ******* ten minutes ago, I just got word that this mother ****** will be getting retained," she said through sobs. "Everybody said that they would not retain him, and the ******* head honcho, the ******* [commanding general] with all of the proof and a ******* admission to guilt decided that they will retain him."

"This is exactly why ******* females in the military ******* kill themselves. This is exactly why nobody ******* takes this seriously," she said.

The accused perpetrator was set to receive an honorable discharge, she alleged.

The charges could not be immediately verified by Anadolu Agency, but the Marine Corps confirmed on Twitter it is "aware" of the video.