As the New Jersey gubernatorial race intensifies, the conflict between Democratic nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli has reached a new level of controversy. At the center of the dispute is a National Archives breach that exposed Sherrill’s entire military record, a situation that has led to accusations of political weaponization and privacy violations. The scandal has drawn sharp reactions from both sides, with Democrats blaming the Trump administration for the breach, while Republicans claim it was a result of a flawed FOIA request by an individual associated with the Ciattarelli campaign.
Sherrill, a member of the Democratic Party, has strongly criticized the breach, calling it an illegal action by the Trump administration that threatens the privacy of American servicemembers. In a statement, she denounced the breach as an attempt to undermine her campaign and called on the administration to take responsibility for its actions. The National Archives has since apologized for the breach, acknowledging that the technician who released the records failed to follow proper administrative procedures. The agency has also committed to holding the responsible staff accountable for the privacy violation.
Ciattarelli’s campaign has defended its actions, asserting that the documents detailing Sherrill’s alleged involvement in the 1994 Navy cheating scandal were not part of the breach. Instead, the campaign claims that the release of the documents was a result of a lawful FOIA request submitted by a personal friend of Ciattarelli, who was not directly involved in the campaign. While the campaign has refused to destroy the documents that were inadvertently shared, it maintains that the breach was an accident and not a deliberate act of political sabotage.
The controversy has also drawn public attention from various Democratic leaders, including former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who accused the Trump administration of violating the privacy of military personnel. DNC Chair Ken Martin also criticized the breach, describing it as a ‘shameful scandal’ that illustrates the administration’s disregard for the American military. The Democratic National Committee has condemned the breach, calling it an example of the Trump administration using federal resources for political gain. House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has even called for a criminal investigation into the unauthorized release of Sherrill’s records.
The situation is further complicated by revelations from the New Jersey Globe, which reported that Sherrill was barred from walking at her graduation due to her refusal to report classmates involved in a cheating scandal at the Naval Academy. While the Ciattarelli campaign has used this revelation as part of its strategy, Sherrill and her campaign have defended her actions, calling them a matter of integrity and personal ethics. The campaign has also dismissed any claims that they were involved in leaking the information, stating that the documents were already publicly available and that they were merely confirming the findings of an independent source.
As the race continues, the accusations of political misconduct and privacy violations have further polarized the public and intensified the already contentious campaign. The National Archives breach has not only raised questions about the security of federal records but has also highlighted the use of military records as a political tool in high-stakes elections. With the support of Democratic leaders and the potential for criminal investigations, the controversy is likely to have lasting implications for both the candidates and the political landscape in New Jersey.