MaddowBlog-After release of Mikie Sherrill's military records, Democrats push for investigation

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Why did an arm of the National Archives release a mostly unredacted version of a Democratic candidate’s military records during her gubernatorial campaign?

After release of Mikie Sherrill’s military records, Democrats push for investigation www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Belinda Ballard (@lynieb.bsky.social) 2025-09-28T21:30:22.273Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/release-mikie-sherrills-military-records-democrats-push-investigation-rcna233893

New Jersey’s gubernatorial election is just 39 days away, and by some measures, the race between Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and former state lawmaker Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican, is shaping up to be a competitive contest. Time will tell how the race shakes out in its closing weeks, but an unexpected controversy appears to have jolted the election.

CBS News reported:

A branch of the National Archives released a mostly unredacted version of Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s military records to Nicholas De Gregorio, an ally of Jack Ciattarelli, her GOP opponent in the New Jersey governor’s race. The disclosure potentially violates the Privacy Act of 1974 and exemptions established under the Freedom of Information Act.

....Many Democrats, however, including Sherrill, aren’t prepared to simply let this go.

“The Trump administration blatantly violated federal law by releasing Mikie Sherrill’s unredacted personal military records to an agent of the Ciattarelli campaign — which were then distributed and weaponized by Jack Ciattarelli,” a spokesperson for the congresswoman said in a statement. “Once again, the Trump administration is targeting political opponents with an absolute disregard for the law, this time in concert with the Ciattarelli campaign. We are calling on Jack Ciattarelli and the Trump administration to immediately stop illegally distributing Mikie Sherrill’s military files ... and we will explore appropriate legal action.”.

The Democratic Governors Association added in a statement: “This illegal and targeted weaponization of the federal government by the Trump Administration against Mikie Sherrill should send chills down the spine of every veteran and every American.”....

In theory, this might seem like an issue that would be of interest to the House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government. But in practice, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that the GOP-led panel will ignore the controversy

[intheflow]

1. She's tried to hold Hegspeth accountable for Signalgate.

This why they've released her unredacted records. She's a woman vet so naturally Pete wants to smear her service and anything that hurts women, Trump gives the green light to.

[mackdaddy]

2. Now release the Epstein files.

Mostly unredacted, too.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. This GOP asshole is actually using these materials

If Jack Ciattarelli is shameless enough to weaponize illegally leaked military records against distinguished Navy vet Mikie Sherrill, what do you think he’ll do with YOUR private data as governor? Abuse of power is his playbook.

Mikie Sherrill fights for New Jerseyans, not against them. #VoteNJ

— Jennifer C (@thejenniwren.teamlh.social) 2025-09-27T17:11:58.853Z

[OldBaldy1701E]

4. "This illegal and targeted weaponization...should send chills down the spine of every veteran and every American."

Yeah.

It should...

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Rachel Maddow had congresswoman Sherrill on

This was a great segment. trump got these records released

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. House Democrats call for investigation into release of Mikie Sherrill's military records

The calls follow reports that the National Archives released improperly redacted files belonging to the New Jersey gubernatorial candidate.

BREAKING NEWS: Following a push by Ranking Member Robert Garcia, the independent watchdog at the National Archives is launching an investigation into the Trump Administration illegally meddling in the New Jersey governor's race.

— Oversight Dems (@oversightdemocrats.house.gov) 2025-09-30T17:45:52.734Z

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/25/house-investigation-mikie-sherrill-military-records-00581091

House Democrats called for an investigation into the release of Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s (D-N.J.) military records Thursday, following reports that her personal information was errantly distributed.

The ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), called the release of the record a “stunning failure” to protect the privacy of a veteran and member of Congress. In a letter shared first with POLITICO, he called for an investigation of what he called an “illegal and likely politically motivated disclosure.”

“This raises serious questions about whether NARA, currently headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, released the comprehensive record in a politically motivated effort to aid Rep. Sherrill’s gubernatorial opponent,” the Californian wrote in a Wednesday letter to the archives’ acting inspector general, William Brown.

CBS News reported earlier Thursday that the National Personnel Records Center, a branch of the National Archives and Records Administration, released improperly redacted personnel files that included the New Jersey representative’s social security number, among other private information about her military service.....

Garcia’s letter follows similar calls from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the highest ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, earlier in the day. The entire New Jersey Democratic delegation also called for an investigation, writing in a letter to the chairs of the Armed Services, Oversight and Veterans’ Affairs Committees that “under no circumstances should any veteran who answered the call of duty to serve our country have to worry about their sensitive military records being leaked and used as part of a political smear campaign.”