President Obama is confident that the Marine Corps can adequately investigate disturbing allegations of hazing that led at least one Muslim recruit to commit suicide, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Thursday.
“Obviously the commander in chief is quite concerned about making sure that those young Americans who sign up to serve in our armed forces … are treated with dignity and respect and not subject to abuse and hazing,” Earnest said about hazing reports out of a Marine boot camp in South Carolina.
“I’m also confident that the leadership at the United States Marine Corps has prioritized this as well,” Earnest said, adding that it’s up to the Marine officials to discuss the probe.
“Primarily because if there is any sort of military justice proceeding, I don’t want anything that I’ve said here to be perceived as interfering in that investigation or interfering in those proceedings,” Earnest said.
“But I can certainly say with confidence that the commander in chief wants to ensure that young Americans who sign up to serve in our military are afforded the respect and fair treatment that they deserve, particularly considering the sacrifice that they’ve indicated they’re prepared to make for the country,” he said.
