Democratic candidate and husband caught up in army academy dishonest scandal

A large dishonest scandal that rocked the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 and concerned New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill additionally concerned her husband, Jason Hedberg, based on reporting by The New York Post.

This follows the improper launch of bombshell non-public army information by the National Archives and Records Administration, which revealed that Sherrill was not allowed to stroll along with her graduating class on the Naval Academy and that her identify was not included within the graduation program on account of her involvement within the scandal.

Sherrill, who’s a congresswoman representing New Jersey, has not been accused of dishonest on the Naval Academy however fairly of failing to report those that had cheated on an examination.

The Post reported that Hedberg was additionally caught up within the scandal. The outlet mentioned Hedberg was one in every of almost 50 midshipmen who sued the Naval Academy, the Navy and the Pentagon to dam an honor board on the faculty from deciding whether or not they need to be dismissed.

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill (in blue) and her husband Jason Hedberg (far left) and household on stage on June 10 after successful the New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial main. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)

The swimsuit alleged that every named plaintiff was denied due course of by the academy and ordered by their superiors to make incriminating statements, based on the outlet.

The criticism acknowledged that “in compliance with the orders of their superior army officers, every named plaintiff was compelled to make inculpatory statements to Navy Inspector General investigators.”

While Sherrill didn’t stroll in her graduation ceremony, Hedberg’s identify is included within the 1994 graduation program, indicating he was cleared to participate within the ceremony, which befell three months after the swimsuit was filed.

Sherrill is at the moment locked in a really tight race towards Republican Jack Ciattarelli to switch term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

Sean Higgins, a spokesperson for Sherrill’s marketing campaign, responded to the event by telling Fox News Digital that “the actual fact Jack Ciattarelli and MAGA Republicans are going after Mikie’s household is sick and determined.”

“Jason graduated, served honorably as a Naval Officer, and the unlawful disclosure of Mikie’s unredacted private army information, together with her Social Security Number, and the illegal dissemination of these information by the Ciattarelli marketing campaign is a shame and have to be investigated,” mentioned Higgins. 

While investigating Sherrill’s suspected involvement within the 1994 dishonest scandal, Ciattarelli’s marketing campaign additionally submitted its personal FOIA request, which confirmed her identify was not on the U.S. Naval Academy commencement program that 12 months. 

The revelations have rocked the already tight race in blue-leaning New Jersey.

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Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, left, shakes arms with Democratic candidate for governor Mikie Sherrill, proper, earlier than a debate on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J.  (Noah Okay. Murray/AP Photo)

The Ciattarelli marketing campaign mentioned Nicholas De Gregorio, a pal who isn’t instantly concerned within the marketing campaign, “submitted a lawful FOIA request” about Sherrill’s army background of his personal accord. 

A spokesperson for the National Archives and Records Administration acknowledged that the technician who responded to De Gregorio’s request about Sherrill’s army document “ought to NOT have launched the complete document,” which included non-public info similar to her Social Security quantity.

The National Archives apologized for the breach of privateness and has dedicated to holding its employees accountable for the blunder. 

In response, Sherrill has accused Ciattarelli of illegally acquiring the information.

“To have a man I’m working towards, it’s going to cease at nothing, it’s going to cease at nothing, who will illegally acquire information. It’s simply past the pale,” Sherrill charged Thursday night time on the marketing campaign path in Plainfield, New Jersey.

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According to information obtained by the New Jersey Globe, Sherrill’s identify was not included on the graduation program throughout the May 25, 1994, ceremony. (Mikie Sherrill)

“I didn’t flip in a few of my classmates, so I didn’t stroll however graduated and was commissioned as an officer within the U.S. Navy, serving for almost ten years with the very best degree of distinction and honor,” Sherrill advised The Globe when confronted with the graduation program, as she defended not releasing any disciplinary information from her time on the academy. 

Sherrill has additionally accused the Trump administration of colluding with Ciattarelli’s marketing campaign.

“This is an unlawful and harmful weaponization of the federal authorities,” Sherrill mentioned in a press release Thursday as she criticized Ciattarelli and the Trump administration for “breaking the legislation and exposing non-public information for political achieve.”

On Thursday, Higgins accused the Trump administration of “focusing on political opponents with an absolute disregard for the legislation, this time in live performance with the Ciattarelli marketing campaign.”

NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR FACES NET WORTH QUESTIONS AS VIRAL CLIP RESURFACES

Republican Jack Ciattarelli (proper) is demanding Rep. Mikie Sherrill (left) launch her army information as New Jersey’s gubernatorial race heats up.  (Noah Okay. Murray/AP Photos)

For his half, Ciattarelli is asking on Sherrill to launch her information to show why she was blocked from attending her commencement ceremony.

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In a letter despatched to Sherrill’s attorneys, a lawyer representing the Ciattarelli marketing campaign mentioned that any declare that Ciattarelli for Governor (CFG) was “a part of a conspiracy to smear [Sherrill] with ill-gotten paperwork is totally false. In truth, it’s defamatory and if [Sherrill] and her marketing campaign proceed to push this false narrative and allege that CFG and/or [campaign strategist Chris] Russell acted illegally, we’ll pursue defamation claims.”

Sherrill’s marketing campaign didn’t instantly present a response to Fox News Digital’s request for touch upon her husband’s involvement within the scandal.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.