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The Marine Corps launched an investigation after a video posted on YouTube showed several Marines laughing and appearing to urinate on the bodies of dead insurgents.

The Marine Corps launched an investigation after a video posted on YouTube showed several Marines laughing and appearing to urinate on the bodies of dead insurgents. (YouTube)

A staff judge advocate who had accused the Marine Corps' top general of unlawful command influence in the prosecutions of several Marines thought to be connected to a controversial urination video has been removed from his post, the Military Times is reporting.

Maj. James Weirick's removal from his Quantico, Va., post stems from allegations of email harrassment, his lawyer, retired Air Force Col. Jane Siegel, told the website.

According to the Military Times:

The removal stems from a Sept. 21 email that Weirick sent to Peter Delorier, a former civilian adviser for Commandant Gen. Jim Amos. In the email -- in which Weirick refers to himself in the third person -- Weirick implores Delorier to "come clean" about what Weirick previously alleged was unlawful command influence by Amos' office.

"You are being offered the opportunity to unburden yourself. Weirick sleeps well every night knowing that honesty allows such freedom. You too can know this freedom. Just be honest," Weirick writes.

He also implies that Delorier was sold out by his former boss, Robert Hogue, and moved from his position at the Pentagon because of his role in the alleged unlawful command influence.

"He can’t offer you protection from Weirick. That protection can’t be offered by anyone. Ever," Weirick writes.

Weirick also has been ordered to report to Naval Criminal Investigative Service for questioning, to turn in his personal firearms and was asked to voluntarily submit to a mental evaluation, Siegel said.

In March, Weirick had sent a written complaint to the Pentagon Inspector General alleging that Amos and others had sought harsh punishment for the Marines facing charges related to the controversial video and of suppressing evidence in the case. In the 39-second video, posted on YouTube in January 2012, several Marines are seen urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. One Marine could be overheard saying to one of the bodies, "Have a good day, buddy."

Read the entire story at MilitaryTimes.com.

news@stripes.com

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