The Big Story 

Top Democrats on Capitol Hill are demanding an investigation into the release of former Rep. Mikie Sherill’s (D) military records weeks before New Jersey’s gubernatorial election. 

Greg Nash

The National Archives has said the release, first reported by CBS, was made in error in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from Nicholas De Gregorio, a former Republican congressional candidate in New Jersey.

“On behalf of the National Archives, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and aggravation this situation may cause you and for our failure to safeguard your military record from unauthorized release.” Scott Levins, the director of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) wrote in a letter dated September 22. 

He called the breach “exceedingly rare” and said the agency “will hold our staff accountable” and review its policies and procedures. 

Democrats aren’t satisfied, alleging more nefarious reasons for the release. 

“This is a breathtaking, disturbing leak that must be thoroughly investigated,” Sherrill campaign spokesperson Sean Higgins said in a statement on Thursday, calling De Gregoria an “agent” of her opponent Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign. 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said he supported a probe into how the military record got leaked.

“It’s outrageous that Donald Trump and his administration, and political hacks connected to them, continue to violate the law,” Jeffries said. “And they will be held accountable. The statute of limitations — I remind all of the sycophants out there — is five years. This Justice Department will be long gone before the statute of limitations expires.”

Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called for investigations by the Archives and Pentagon to ensure “the individuals responsible for this blatant violation of privacy are held accountable.”

Ciattarelli’s campaign says the outrage from Sherill and her allies is an attempt to distract from another disclosure related to Sherill’s military service. 

The New Jersey Globe reported on Thursday that Sherill was barred from walking with her class at the Naval Academy’s 1994 graduation, as punishment related to a cheating scandal that implicated dozens of her classmates. 

“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,” Sherrill told the outlet. 

The Globe obtained a copy of the commencement program from the graduation, which was not part of the military records released through the NPRC. 

Ciatarelli went on Fox News on Thursday night, blaming Sherill for not releasing her disciplinary records on her own. “She’s trying like hell to obfuscate,” he said. “But there’s no obfuscating what we now know – she was not allowed to walk.” 

The race between Sherrill and Ciattarelli to replace Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is tied, according to a poll released Thursday.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Colin Meyn filling in for Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

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