Every Republican member of the New Jersey Legislature but one is calling on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill to allow the U.S. Navy to release records related to her role in the 1994 cheating scandal at the Naval Academy.
“The Naval Academy’s honor concept makes clear that a midshipman does not lie, cheat, or steal. New Jerseyans deserve to know whether Congresswoman Sherrill upheld that standard,” said the 42 GOP lawmakers – everyone but State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield).
The Republican legislators said they were stunned to find out last week that Sherrill was not permitted to walk with her class at graduation as punishment for her involvement. The four-term congresswoman and former helicopter pilot has said she was penalized for not coming forward to turn in her classmates
But Sherrill has refused to authorize the release of records that could exonerate her.
“While we respect her service, we are deeply disappointed that she denied her involvement during her first campaign for Congress and has maintained that lie ever since,” the Republicans said. “The only way to accomplish that level of disclosure is for the Congresswoman to personally authorize the immediate and full release of all records limited specifically to her involvement in the 1994 cheating scandal at the Naval Academy.”
The Republicans say, “Sherrill owes the people of our state full and total transparency on this matter.”
“The public has a right to know exactly what Congresswoman Sherrill said to Naval investigators at the time, what violations she committed, and the full extent of her punishment,” the lawmakers stated. “We urge her to do so without further delay.”
