Calls for criminal investigation into release of Mikie Sherrill's military records
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- The race for governor in the Garden State exploded on Thursday into ugly accusations of dirty tricks and alleged leaks.
As Republican Jack Ciattarelli visited voters in Hunterdon County, the National Archives admitted it had wrongfully released the military records of his opponent, Democrat Mikie Sherrill.
They revealed that the congressmember and war veteran was barred from walking in her 1994 Naval Academy graduation for failing to report classmates who had cheated on an exam.
Sherrill addressed the leak of her military records at a town hall Thursday night, blaming her opponent.
"To have a guy I'm running against who will stop at nothing to illegally obtain records, it's beyond the pale," she said.
She spoke to a crowd of more than 350 at the event put on by the National Pan-Hellenic Councils Across New Jersey in Plainfield.
"There was a test at the school that was stolen," Sherrill said. "I did not realize it was stolen. I took the test... afterwards I knew what the rumor mill was... I didn't come forward with that information."
No documents released or obtained by news outlets have shown that Sherrill was involved in the cheating, but because she did not report her classmates, she was not permitted to walk at graduation.
"I support a criminal investigation into the unauthorized and illegal release of Mikie Sherrill's records," said House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Jeffries blamed the Trump administration for weaponizing the documents to prop up Ciattarelli, who polls show is newly surging in popularity.
It comes as his campaign has relentlessly mocked Sherrill's performance in a recent TV interview.
"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 and the Middle East," Jeffries said. "And it is outrageous that Donald Trump and his administration and political hacks connected to them continue to violate the law."
Jeffries accused the Trump administration of releasing those documents without redacting them and revealing personal information like Sherrill's social security number and her home address.
Sherrill's campaign was already trying to Velcro Ciattarelli to the president who is deeply unpopular in the blue state.
A Sherrill spokesman called the release of her records "a breathtaking, disturbing leak that must be thoroughly investigated."
The spokesman added, "once again the Trump administration is targeting political opponents with an absolute disregard for the law, this time in concert with the Ciattarelli campaign."
Ciattarelli, who didn't attend the gubernatorial town hall, did speak on Fox News.
"The bottom line is she's violated the Navy's code of honor code concept would have you, which says that they do not lie, they do not cheat, and they don't tolerate those who do," Ciattarelli said.
Meanwhile, Chris Russell, a spokesperson for Ciattarelli, is calling for Sherrill to release her disciplinary records, claiming the Democratic nominee was "implicated & punished in the largest cheating and honor code scandal in Naval Academy history and has lied about it for years."
At the town hall, Sherrill said she's willing to be transparent with New Jersey voters.
RELATED | New poll puts Mikie Sherrill, Jack Ciattarelli tied in race for New Jersey governor
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