Congress eyes Marine Corps response to hazing allegations

Lawmakers are looking into allegations of hazing and misconduct at the Marine Corps Parris Island training center but have not decided what action they’ll take to ensure the problems are being addressed.

At least 20 Marines are facing punishment related to problems uncovered after a series of investigations into the death of a recruit in March at the South Carolina training center. Instructors are accused of hazing, racial discrimination and possibly criminal violence against recruits,

The problems culminated with the death of 20-year-old Raheel Siddiqui, who fell nearly 40 feet from a barracks stairwell in what investigators say appears to be a reaction to repeated abuse from instructors.

The incident has forced changes in recruit oversight and mental health assistance throughout the service, and Marine Corps officials continue to look into other needed changes and punishments.

Several members of the House Armed Services Committee have been briefed by Marine Corps leaders on their response and visited Parris Island in recent weeks, but have not decided whether to hold hearings on the issue.

Officials with the committee have privately expressed concerns that any public comments or events on the issue could taint criminal prosecutions of service members accused of abuse.
They point to the yearlong legal challenge by lawyers for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl over comments made by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., who promised to hold congressional hearings on the issue if Bergdahl wasn’t punished.

Last month, a military judge ruled those remarks did not amount to a congressional attempt to steer punishment for Bergdahl, a former prisoner of war charged with desertion.

Congressional leaders have not ruled out a hearing on the Marine Corps issues, but do not have any timeline for when that might happen.
An official for Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee said they understand the concerns about potential investigation contamination if lawmakers move too quickly.

“But separate from that we are very concerned about any media reports that suggest a systemic pattern of hazing,” the official said. “We encourage the majority to investigate and hold hearings into how pervasive this problem is.”

Lawmakers aren’t scheduled to return to Capitol Hill until Nov. 15, and it’s unclear how much time they’ll have to tackle new issues before the end of the legislative session. House and Senate negotiators are working on compromise language on the annual defense authorization bill, and are hoping to finalize that around Thanksgiving.