Facebook agrees to remove Newtown pages

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal says Facebook has agreed to remove some pages from the social media site related to December's shootings in Newtown.

Blumenthal, along with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, all Connecticut Democrats, had complained about the so-called tribute pages in a letter sent Monday morning to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.

They say some of those pages, purportedly set up to honor the victims of the Dec. 14 shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, have been used to exploit or harass the families, and could be used as vehicles for financial fraud.

Blumenthal said his office received a phone call Monday from Facebook officials, saying they would begin removing the pages immediately.

Facebook did not immediately reply to an email request for comment.