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House Democrats on Thursday demanded a federal investigation into the unauthorized release of Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s military records, calling it a serious breach of privacy and a potential politically motivated leak ahead of New Jersey’s hotly contested gubernatorial election.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, called the release “a stunning failure” to protect the privacy of a veteran and sitting member of Congress. In a letter shared with POLITICO, Garcia asked the National Archives and Records Administration’s inspector general to investigate what he described as an “illegal and likely politically motivated disclosure.”
“This raises serious questions about whether NARA, currently headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, released the comprehensive record in a politically motivated effort to aid Rep. Sherrill’s gubernatorial opponent,” Garcia wrote to acting Inspector General William Brown.
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), a branch of the National Archives, acknowledged that a technician improperly handled Sherrill’s personnel files, which included her Social Security number and other sensitive details. The agency said it had contacted Sherrill’s congressional office, the Department of the Navy, and NARA’s inspector general about the breach.
Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, is running for governor in November. Her campaign said the breach represents “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,” campaign spokesperson Sean Higgins said. “We are calling on Jack Ciattarelli and the Trump administration to immediately stop illegally distributing Mikie Sherrill’s military files.”
Fallout and Political Repercussions
Democratic leaders swiftly rallied behind Sherrill, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. In a joint statement, New Jersey’s Democratic congressional delegation said no veteran should have to fear that “sensitive military records [will] be leaked and used as part of a political smear campaign.”
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) accused Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli of “a desperate attempt to smear her military record,” while Jeffries called Sherrill “a patriot and a hero” during a Capitol Hill press conference.
“It’s outrageous that Donald Trump and his administration and political hacks connected to them continue to violate the law,” Jeffries said. “They will be held accountable.”
In response, Sherrill’s campaign issued cease-and-desist letters to the National Archives, Ciattarelli’s campaign, and several of his aides, accusing them of distributing the files.
The Ciattarelli campaign, meanwhile, sought to capitalize on the release, claiming Sherrill was involved in “the largest cheating and honor code scandal in the history of the U.S. Navy.” CBS News reported that Sherrill did not walk at her 1994 graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy after failing to report cheating by classmates. Her campaign said she still graduated on time and served honorably.
“The people of New Jersey deserve complete and total transparency,” Ciattarelli campaign manager Eric Arpert said.
Calls for Oversight and Broader Implications
The breach echoes earlier controversies over improper access to service records. House Republicans investigated similar leaks involving GOP lawmakers in 2023, including Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa). Bacon said Thursday the military “must do better to protect veterans’ records,” even as he acknowledged the cheating allegations were “a legitimate campaign issue.”
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment, and neither House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) nor Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) has addressed the Democrats’ demand for a new probe.
The controversy comes as Sherrill faces one of the nation’s most closely watched gubernatorial races. Polls show a tight contest between Sherrill and Ciattarelli in the Democratic-leaning state, where Republicans hope to regain the governorship after more than two decades.
