A case of wrongfully released unredacted records has rocked the New Jersey gubernatorial race after it was discovered that Democratic candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill didn’t walk with her U.S. Naval Academy graduating class in 1994 amid an infamous cheating scandal.
The National Personnel Records Center, a branch of the National Archives, released much of Ms. Sherrill’s private military records to an ally of Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli. The records included her Social Security number, home address of her and her parents, and performance evaluations from the academy, among other information, according to CBS News, which obtained the documents.
The Washington Times has not independently viewed the documents.
The records center told CBS News that the mistake was made by a technician who didn’t follow standard operating procedure for releasing records and should have released only those allowed under FOIA rules.
While Ms. Sherrill and Democrats are calling for an investigation into how the release happened, Republicans are focusing on why Ms. Sherrill was barred from walking in graduation.
In 1994, more than 100 midshipmen were implicated in cheating on a physics exam.
She said she was not accused of cheating.
“There was a test at the school that was stolen. I did not realize that it was stolen. I took the test afterwards. I knew what the rumor mill was. I knew people who were implicated in it,” she said at an event Thursday.
“I didn’t come forward with that information,” she said.
Mr. Ciattarelli has called for Ms. Sherrill to release her records to prove that she wasn’t implicated in the scandal.
“The bottom line is she’s violated the Navy’s code of honor code concept, … which says that they do not lie, they do not cheat, and they don’t tolerate those who do,” he said Thursday on Fox News’ “Hannity.”
“What we learned today is that she was part of it in some way, shape or form. Come clean, release the records. Tell us what’s in your disciplinary records. I think the people of New Jersey deserve that,” he said.
Ms. Sherrill and her campaign have blasted the Trump administration, saying it “blatantly violated federal law” by releasing her records.
“The Trump administration blatantly violated federal law by releasing Mikie Sherrill’s unredacted personal military records to an agent of the Ciattarelli campaign — which were then distributed and weaponized by Jack Ciattarelli,” campaign communications director Sean Higgins said in a statement.
“This is a breathtaking, disturbing leak that must be thoroughly investigated. Once again, the Trump administration is targeting political opponents with an absolute disregard for the law, this time in concert with the Ciattarelli campaign,” he said.
On MSNBC Friday, Ms. Sherrill said, “My opponent and the Trump administration will stop at nothing. They will completely weaponize the federal government to achieve what they want.”
The White House declined to comment.
The records center sent a letter to a GOP ally of Mr. Ciattarelli, Nicholas De Gregorio, who requested and was sent the documents. The center admitted its error, apologized and asked him to not share the information, CBS reported. The center also sent a letter to Ms. Sherrill apologizing for the incident.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, has defended Ms. Sherrill and said he supports “a criminal investigation into the unauthorized and illegal release of Mikie Sherrill’s records.”
“Mikie Sherrill is a patriot and a hero who has served this country, graduated from the Naval Academy, helicopter pilot, tours of duty in dangerous places overseas in the Middle East,” he said Thursday. “… It’s outrageous that Donald Trump and his administration and political hacks connected to them continue to violate the law, and they will be held accountable.”
Mr. Ciattarelli’s campaign has reportedly pushed back on allegations that pressure from the Trump administration led to the release of the documents.
