Sherrill barred from Naval Academy graduation amid 1994 cheating scandal, report says
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Mikie Sherrill reportedly was blocked from walking with her Naval Academy class after declining to identify classmates tied to a cheating scheme affecting about 130 midshipmen.
A New Jersey Globe report says Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor, was barred from walking with her graduating class at the U.S. Naval Academy during the May 25, 1994 commencement after a cheating scandal that involved about 130 midshipmen.
Records obtained by the New Jersey Globe show that Sherrill's name was not included on the commencement program for the ceremony, according to the records. Sherrill told the outlet that she was barred from walking because she declined to turn in some of her classmates who were implicated in the misconduct. "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," Sherrill said.
Sherrill also said she declined to authorize the release of sealed disciplinary records from her time at the academy that would have revealed the specifics of why she was not allowed to walk at graduation.
The New Jersey Globe report notes that the story comes as Sherrill’s campaign and supporters have sought to shape a broader narrative about her record and leadership, with the campaign not immediately commenting on the new details.
Hours after the report surfaced, a shock poll showed Sherrill in a dead heat with Republican Jack Ciattarelli, undermining months of polling that had pegged her as the frontrunner in the gubernatorial contest. The poll’s timing underscores the potential political impact of the new information as candidates prepare for a fall race in New Jersey.
The report also highlights that the 1994 cheating scandal affected about 130 midshipmen in Sherrill's class, a figure cited in the coverage of the gatekeeping decision at the time. Sherrill, who later served nearly a decade as a Navy officer, framed her response in terms of personal decisions during the incident and her subsequent military service, rather than reopening the debate over the past misconduct.
As the gubernatorial race moves forward, the new details from the Naval Academy episode add a chapter to Sherrill's military-to-political career that opponents could reference in the campaign. The 1994 episode remains part of the broader conversation about leadership, accountability, and how past actions are weighed in contemporary political contests.
