U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) has been blocked from walking with her graduating class at the United States Naval Academy. 

This comes, according to Breitbart News, as Sherrill has been accused of being part of a "cheating scandal." It also comes as Sherrill is running to become the next governor of New Jersey.

The congresswoman is fighting back by claiming that the administration of President Donald Trump "illegally" leaked her personal files.

The Trump admin illegally leaked my unredacted personnel file to @Jack4NJ's allies to try to smear me.

The full force of the federal government is being weaponized to defeat me — I’m asking you to help me fight back!

Donate here: https://t.co/VurLGuR6Fw

— Mikie Sherrill (@MikieSherrill) September 25, 2025

Background

Breitbart reports that "Sherrill's name was absent from 'a copy' of the U.S. Naval Academy’s commencement program from May 1994," and the reason might surprise you.

Per the outlet:

Sherrill’s name was absent from “a copy” of the U.S. Naval Academy’s commencement program from May 1994, which the New Jersey Globe obtained. The congresswoman explained that while she was not allowed to “walk” with her graduating class for having failed to “turn in some of” her classmates over a cheating scandal in which students “obtained and shared” exam answers in December 1992, she still graduated.

The outlet goes on to quote the congresswoman's response to the allegation.

She said:

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.

The congresswoman also released a statement alleging that the Trump administration "illegally leaked" this information. She wrote, "The Trump admin illegally leaked my unredacted personnel file to @Jack4NJ's allies to try to smear me. The full force of the federal government is being weaponized to defeat me — I’m asking you to help me fight back!"

Ciattarelli swoops in

In the gubernatorial race, Sherrill is going up against Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

He immediately sought to capitalize on this, creating a scandal.

"Today's admission by Congresswoman Sherrill that she was implicated in, and punished for, her involvement in the largest cheating and honor code scandal in the history of the United States Navy is both stunning and deeply disturbing," he wrote.

Ciattarelli added, "For eight years, Mikie Sherrill has built her entire political brand around her time at the Naval Academy and in the Navy, all the while concealing her involvement in the scandal and her punishment. The people of New Jersey deserve complete and total transparency."

We'll have to see if this has any impact on Sherrill in the upcoming election.