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General who called sexual harassment allegations “fake news” is removed by the U.S. Marines

Brig. Gen. Kurt Stein headed the office that oversees sexual assault prevention.

The Marine Corps has fired the general whose office oversees sexual assault prevention efforts in response to comments he made at a town hall last week dismissing sexual harassment allegations as “fake news” and saying he lived vicariously through a Navy chaplain who had been recently fired for having sex in a bar.

Brig. Gen. Kurt Stein, the now former director of Marine and Family Programs, was suspended on April 11 after the Marine Corps’ headquarters received an anonymous tip from the town hall about Stein’s remarks, USA Today first reported. The sexual harassment allegations Stein called “fake news” referred to two civilian employees claiming a Marine Corps officer on five different occasions showed them individually he had an erection through his clothing.

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Read: U.S. Marine Corps general suspended after calling sexual harassment allegations “fake news”

Stein won’t be entirely removed from the service but rather reassigned because the Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert Neller has lost confidence in his abilities to lead the program, the Marine Corps said in a statement.

"After reviewing the investigation, Neller determined that he lost confidence in Stein's ability to lead this particular organization, and Stein has been removed and reassigned," the statement read. "Leaders are responsible for establishing an environment conducive to mission accomplishment."

The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to VICE News’ request for comment about where Stein would be reassigned and whether his pay or his rank would be affected. Brig. Gen. Stein assumed the role heading Marine and Family Programs in November 2016. A combat aviator, Stein has flown more than 100 combat missions and 4,500 flight hours in his career.

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The Marine Corps and the U.S. military at large have come under scrutiny in the past year for its handling of sexual harassment and sexual assault cases. The Pentagon has attempted to crack down on the issue with more frequent training and harsher punishments, but skeptics say only a cultural shift in the Marine Corps will truly be able to help.

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One of those skeptics is Rep. Jackie Speier, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on military personnel.

“I applaud Commandant Neller’s swift action, but let’s see if Brigadier General Stein will leave with his full rank and pension,” Speier told USA Today.

Read: The #metoo chorus is growing in the U.S. military

U.S. Marines spokesman Maj. Brian Block told VICE News that Stein will remain on administrative leave until he is reassigned within the coming weeks. His replacement to lead the Marine Corps' family and behavioral programs has not yet been identified.

Cover image: U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Kurt W. Stein (right), Director of Marine and Family Programs, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, speaks at during Silver Star Award ceremony in Mandan, North Dakota, Nov 1, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Ricardo R. Davila/Released)