The 1994 cheating scandal at the U.S. Naval Academy, initially linked to New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, now also involves her husband, Jason Hedberg, according to recent reports. The scandal resurfaced after the National Archives improperly released private military records, revealing that Sherrill was excluded from her graduation ceremony in 1994 due to her involvement in the incident. However, her husband’s name was included in the commencement program, indicating he was cleared for participation.
The controversy has intensified the already tight race between Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, with both campaigns accusing each other of illegally obtaining and disseminating sensitive records. While Sherrill claims she did not cheat but failed to report others, her husband’s involvement has added another layer of complexity to an already contentious political battle. The National Archives has apologized for the breach of privacy and has committed to holding its staff accountable for the blunder.
Sherrill’s campaign has accused Ciattarelli of illegally obtaining the records, calling it a ‘disgrace’ and demanding an investigation. Ciattarelli, in turn, has called for Sherrill to release her records to prove why she was blocked from attending her graduation ceremony. The scandal has further drawn political tensions, with Sherrill accusing the Trump administration of colluding with Ciattarelli’s campaign to target her. Meanwhile, the broader implications of the scandal have heightened the stakes in New Jersey’s blue-leaning state, where the race for governor has become increasingly fierce.
In an effort to address the situation, the National Archives has confirmed that the technician who responded to the FOIA request submitted by a friend of Ciattarelli’s had mistakenly released the entire record, including private information such as Sherrill’s Social Security number. This revelation has led to calls for accountability within the organization and raised concerns about the misuse of personal data in political campaigns. The scandal has also been compounded by other controversies, including questions about Sherrill’s net worth, which have further divided public opinion and added to the uncertainty in the race.