Mikie Sherrill’s husband linked to Naval Academy cheating scandal in exclusive report

New details from court documents obtained by The Post show Mikie Sherrill's husband, Jason Hedberg, was among midshipmen tied to a sweeping Naval Academy cheating scandal in the early 1990s. Hedberg was one of about four dozen midshipmen who sued top officials at the Naval Academy, Navy and Pentagon in 1994 in a bid to block the Allen Board from deciding whether they should be expelled. The complaint described how, under pressure from superiors, each named plaintiff was allegedly compelled to make inculpatory statements to Navy Inspector General investigators, and argued that due process had been violated. The details of any inculpatory statements by Hedberg remain unclear, but his name appears in the 1994 commencement program, suggesting he was cleared to participate in graduation activities roughly three months after the suit was filed. Court documents do not specify what role Hedberg played in the wider scandal.

A broader record of the affair shows that the scandal touched a large portion of the Naval Academy’s student body. The episode centers on a December 14, 1992, exam for Electrical Engineering 311, a mandatory class for all non engineering majors. The test was taken by 663 midshipmen, and investigators said a substantial portion of the class had access to the answers in advance. In a 2002 episode of CBS News’ 48 Hours, one student involved estimated that roughly 80 percent of those who took the exam knew the content beforehand. In the wake of the test, the academy launched a wide-ranging investigation involving the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), multiple Honor Boards, and the Office of the Naval Inspector General. Ultimately, 88 midshipmen were found guilty of participating in the dissemination of the exam, with 24 expelled and 64 receiving lesser penalties such as late graduation. The Navy later described the scandal as one of the largest cheating incidents in the academy’s history.

The Naval Academy’s honor concept emphasizes integrity and truthfulness among midshipmen, stating that individuals are to “tell the truth,” avoid lying, and ensure that work claimed as their own is their own. After graduation, Hedberg went on to serve as a Navy intelligence officer, and Sherrill later became a Navy pilot. The couple has four children. The 1994 suit, filed by Hedberg and other midshipmen, argued that a prior inspector general investigation wrongly denied plaintiffs their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and sought to block the Allen Board from proceeding with disciplinary action. Federal attorneys for the Navy, Pentagon and Naval Academy included future Attorney General Eric Holder. A judge ultimately found that the Fifth Amendment concerns were moot because no criminal proceeding was pending or contemplated at the time.

Sherrill has described the matter in broader terms as part of her personal history, but her campaign has not released disciplinary records from her academy days. The Post reported this week that requests for those records have been declined by Sherrill’s team. Campaign communications director Sean Higgins responded to inquiries with a statement defending Hedberg’s service and criticizing opponents for disseminating unredacted personal records. “The illegal disclosure of Mikie’s unredacted personal military records, including her Social Security Number, and the unlawful dissemination of those records by the Ciattarelli campaign is a disgrace and must be investigated,” Higgins said. A rival campaign source questioned Sherrill’s account that she was barred from graduation for protecting her classmates, calling that claim inaccurate and arguing midshipmen were punished for lying to investigators rather than for shielding peers.

The disclosures come as the New Jersey governor’s race remains competitive in late September. A Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey showed Sherrill and GOP challenger Jack Ciattarelli essentially tied with fewer than six weeks until Election Day. The result underscored how scrutiny of candidates’ pasts can become a focal point in statewide contests, particularly in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since 2013. The Post sought comment from the Naval Academy and Hedberg’s lawyers but had not received responses at publication.

Observers say the developing notes about the Naval Academy affair intersect with ongoing questions about transparency in political campaigns. While Hedberg’s role in the broader cheating scandal remains a matter of historical record, the current political implication centers on how much, if any, past disciplinary actions by Sherrill or her husband might influence voters’ perceptions of character, leadership, and accountability. The Naval Academy has not publicly released detailed disciplinary records related to the 1992–94 period, and the parties involved have divergent views on what is appropriate to disclose in a political context.

The case also highlights how legal debates over due process, Fifth Amendment rights, and the scope of internal disciplinary proceedings intersect with public life. As campaigns wage competitive races for state leadership, the question of what past actions should be disclosed—and how they should be interpreted—remains a salient issue for voters and political reporters alike. The Post will continue to follow the story and will seek comment from additional sources to provide further context on the timelines and any ongoing legal or ethical considerations involved.

The Naval Academy and Hedberg’s legal representatives did not provide immediate comment on the specifics of the newly surfaced documents. In a political environment where opposition campaigns frequently scrutinize personal histories, the evolving narrative about Sherrill and her husband will likely influence discussions about character, trust, and national service as voters assess their gubernatorial choices. As the race tightens, both campaigns are expected to weigh how much weight past institutional scandals should carry in evaluating current leadership potential.

Amid the attention, political analysts caution that past disciplinary matters at a service academy carry different carriers of weight than contemporary political records. They note that the Naval Academy’s honor system was designed to test integrity under pressure and that many individuals who faced disciplinary action decades ago continued to serve in civilian and military roles. Still, the exposure of Hedberg’s ties to the scandal renews a discussion about transparency in public life and the line between personal history and political accountability. The evolving narrative will be watched closely by voters, commentators, and colleagues in New Jersey and beyond.