Marine general gets the lightest of slaps on the wrist for his toxic and abusive leadership

The IG investigation found that Cooling created a hostile work environment during his seven months as legislative assistant.

During that time,He threatened to castrate a staff member, told a female Marine that he'd prefer his daughter work as a prostitute than serve as a pilot, and spread a rumor about a female Marine officer whom he believed filed a complaint that cost him his job, the investigation found.

"We substantiated the allegation that BGen Cooling's overall course of conduct toward subordinates disparaged, bullied, humiliated them, and devalued women," the investigation found.

Cooling defended his leadership style, telling investigators the comment about his daughter was meant as a joke and he didn't remember threatening to castrate anyone – although he may have discussed castrating cattle while growing up on a farm.