In what seems to be a deeply embarrassing moment for the Democrats, a scandal has resurfaced in the tight 2025 gubernatorial race between Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Apparently, in 1994, Sherrill and her husband, Jason Hedberg, were involved in a major cheating scandal at the U.S. Naval Academy, which resulted in the pair being blocked from attending graduation; however, both still received diplomas.
For context, Ciattarelli demanded that Sherrill release her military records. Freaking out, the Democrat accused Ciattarelli and the Trump administration of illegally obtaining her private records, prompting legal threats and an apology from the National Archives for the breach.
In any case, Sean Higgins, Sherrill’s campaign spokesperson, responded to the allegations by going on the offensive. “The fact Jack Ciattarelli and MAGA Republicans are going after Mikie’s family is sick and desperate,” he whined.
Building on his tenuous case, Higgins continued his tirade, saying, “Jason graduated, served honorably as a Naval Officer, and the illegal disclosure of Mikie’s unredacted personal military records, including her Social Security number and the unlawful dissemination of those records by the Ciattarelli campaign, is a disgrace and must be investigated.”
Doubling down, he accused the Trump administration of “targeting political opponents with an absolute disregard for the law, this time in concert with the Ciattarelli campaign,” without addressing the implications of the story itself.
Speaking on her own behalf, Sherrill addressed the scandal in a statement given to local media. “I didn’t turn in some of my classmates, so I didn’t walk but graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving for nearly ten years with the highest level of distinction and honor,” she claimed.
Still not done, Rep. Mikie Sherrill brought up this scandal on her campaign trail, where she noted, “To have a guy I’m running against, it will stop at nothing, it will stop at nothing, who will illegally obtain records. It’s just beyond the pale.” Additionally, she whined, “This is an illegal and dangerous weaponization of the federal government.”
"*" indicates required fields
Blowing apart the baseless allegations of impropriety, a Ciattarelli campaign lawyer wrote a letter that read, “Any claim that Ciattarelli for Governor (CFG) was part of a conspiracy to smear [Sherrill] with ill-gotten documents is completely false.”
Continuing to destroy these pathetic limbs, the letter promised legal retribution. “In fact, it is defamatory and if [Sherrill] and her campaign continue to push this false narrative and allege that CFG and/or [campaign strategist Chris] Russell acted illegally, we will pursue defamation claims,” the document stated.”
Adding another perspective, a National Archives and Records Administration spokesperson clarified that “The technician who responded to De Gregorio’s request about Sherrill’s military record ‘should NOT have released the entire record.'”
Conservatives have picked up on a pattern of disgust from the beleaguered NJ Dem. For example, one internet sleuth on social media reported, “Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) lied & claimed her grandfather flew a ‘B-52’ bomber over France during World War II. Only problem is the B-52 bomber didn’t enter service with the U.S. Air Force until 1955.”