Sherrill pressed to release Navy scandal records after Jersey reps demand answers
Trenton, NJ – Three New Jersey Republicans are calling on Rep. Mikie Sherrill to release long-sealed documents tied to her admitted role in the 1994 United States Naval Academy cheating scandal, saying voters deserve full transparency after new revelations surfaced last week.
In a joint statement issued Monday, Reps. Chris Smith, Jeff Van Drew, and Tom Kean Jr. urged Sherrill to authorize the immediate release of her academic, disciplinary, and investigatory records. The demand follows a New Jersey Globe report detailing her past denials and later acknowledgment of punishment in the case.
Key Points
- Reps. Smith, Van Drew, and Kean Jr. are pressing Sherrill for full disclosure of Naval Academy records.
- Sherrill admitted she was disciplined in the 1994 cheating scandal after initially denying involvement.
- Republicans say voters need clarity on the scope of her violations and punishment.
The trio posed several pointed questions, including what Sherrill told investigators, what violations she committed, and what penalties she faced.
GOP calls for transparency
According to the lawmakers, only Sherrill can authorize the release of her sealed records, and they argued that doing so would “put this matter to rest.” They said the lack of disclosure raises concerns about whether her account matches the official record.
“If those sealed disciplinary records match Representative Sherrill’s current explanation, we are unsure why she would refuse to release the records,” the statement read.
Scandal resurfaces decades later
Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, first addressed the matter publicly in 2018 when reports linked her to the cheating scandal. At the time, she admitted to being disciplined after previously denying any involvement. The issue has resurfaced in recent days as Republicans intensify scrutiny ahead of her reelection campaign.
Sherrill’s office has not yet responded to the latest demands.