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Dem gubernatorial nominee hit with accusations of nepotism over children’s acceptance into Naval Academy
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New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, who is currently embroiled in a controversy involving a cheating scandal while she studied at the U.S. Naval Academy, is facing questions and accusations of nepotism over her children being admitted to that same academy earlier this year.
«I am so proud of all the young men and women from NJ-11 who are reporting to the military academies or academy preparatory programs this summer,» Sherrill said in a June press release highlighting 24 students from her district being appointed to various military academies including two of her children, Lincoln and Margaret Hedberg.
The press release did not note that the two students with her husband’s last name were her children and the photo in the release showing Sherrill posing with the students does not include her children.
«From my time at the Naval Academy, I remember how challenging the academy’s programs are — both academically and physically,» the press release added. «Learning to work as a team and overcoming those challenges prepared me to lead servicemembers as a military officer. I am grateful for these young men and women who are willing to serve our nation in uniform and I wish them the best of luck as they start their careers as future military leaders.»
MIKIE SHERRILL STAYS SILENT AS NEW JERSEY POLITICIANS REACT TO CONVICTED COP KILLER’S DEATH
Representative Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat from New Jersey, during a news conference about a Signal messaging chat used by Trump administration officials, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. ( Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Members of Congress nominate students to the service academies while the actual academies make the appointments after the representatives submit a list of nominees by the end of January and the academies appoint qualified candidates.
Some on social media have suggested nepotism was at play with their acceptance into the academy given that only 22 students from her district were admitted to the military academies, including just nine to the naval academy, according to the press release.
College rankings show that admissions to the Naval Academy are very competitive with a 9% acceptance rate.
«Mikie Sherrill’s two kids are at the Naval Academy, one of the hardest schools to get into, because of her nepotism,» Rasmussen pollster Mark Mitchell posted on X. «Meanwhile, some hardworking, impoverished, and unconnected teenagers lose out on a life dream they earned.»
Journalist Jennifer Jean Miller posted on X, «Far left politicians like Mikie Sherrill like to virtue signal about privilege…yet have no problem exerting their own privilege. How did Mikie Sherrill’s two kids get into the Naval Academy? Did two other deserving students miss out because of her nepotism?»
While many on social media have claimed that Sherrill nominated one of her children, an aide for Democratic Sen. Cory Booker confirmed to Fox News Digital that Booker nominated one of Sherrill’s children for this year’s freshman class.
«Each year, Senator Booker, as a member of Congress, has the honor of nominating qualified young people to serve in the United States military service academies,» Booker’s office told Fox News Digital.
«Prospective candidates go through an extensive application and screening process with service members and academy volunteers to recommend the best candidates to the academy based on merit. The candidates put forth for each academy represent the best and brightest that New Jersey has to offer.»
Sherrill’s other child was nominated by now-former Democratic Sen. George Helmy, a Helmy spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Sherrill told Fox News Digital in a statement that, in «order to remove even the appearance of a conflict of interest, my children did not compete in my office’s service academy nomination process.»
«Instead, they applied to the offices of the U.S. Senators from New Jersey, who also run academy nomination processes each year, and I am proud that they each earned nominations on their own,» Sherrill added.
«Every year, our office runs a competitive and nonpolitical process to select the best nominees to submit to the academies. I am honored to nominate the service academy appointees from our district who step up to serve our country.»
MIKIE SHERRILL REMAINS SILENT ON ISSUE OF TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS AS TRUMP CALLS HER OUT FOR IT
Incoming plebes (freshmen) march into Bancroft Hall after taking part in their Oath of Office Ceremony during Induction Day at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
When asked by Fox News Digital why Sherrill’s press release did not include her children in the picture or mention their relationship to her, Sherrill’s office said that her child appointed by Booker attended that ceremony and that the press release listed all the students from NJ-11 who were appointed to academies, not just those she nominated, which is «routine for the office.»
Sherrill’s campaign called the nepotism questions a «depraved attack» in a statement to Fox News Digital.
«The Trump administration, in concert with the Ciattarelli campaign, released Mikie Sherrill’s unredacted service records — including her Social Security number and parents’ address — and now is desperately doubling down by attacking Mikie’s husband and kids,» the statement said. «It’s despicable, wrong, and underscores just how unfit Jack Ciattarelli is to be governor.»
Federal law (10 U.S.C. § 8454) states that members of Congress may nominate up to 15 candidates for each available vacancy at the U.S. Naval Academy. «Each member of Congress can have 5 constituents attending the Naval Academy at any time,» according to their admissions website.
The combustible ballot box battle in New Jersey, which is one of only two elections for governor across the country this year, was rocked last week after a report revealed that the United States Naval Academy blocked Sherrill from taking part in her 1994 graduation amid a cheating scandal.
Ciattarelli and his campaign are calling on Sherrill, who went on to pilot helicopters during her military career after graduating from the Naval Academy, to release her military records to explain why she was blocked from attending her graduation ceremony.
«What we learned today is that she was part of it in some way, shape or form. Come clean, release the records. Tell us what’s in your disciplinary records. I think the people of New Jersey deserve that,» Ciattarelli said Thursday night in an interview on Fox News’ «Hannity.»
But a second report revealed that the National Personnel Records Center, which is a branch of the National Archives and Records Administration, errantly released Sherrill’s improperly redacted military personnel files, which included private information including her social security number, to a Ciattarelli ally.
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New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli (Getty Images)
The news spurred calls by top Democrats across the country for an investigation.
«To have a guy I’m running against, it will stop at nothing, it will stop at nothing, who will illegally obtain records. It’s just beyond the pale,» Sherrill, who served as a federal prosecutor before winning election to Congress, charged Thursday night on the campaign trail in Plainfield, New Jersey.
The two candidates face off next week in the second and final debate in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
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Estados Unidos anunció la destrucción de 16 embarcaciones iraníes utilizadas para minar el Estrecho de Ormuz
El Comando Central de Estados Unidos (CENTCOM) anunció este martes que fuerzas estadounidenses destruyeron 16 buques minadores iraníes cerca del Estrecho de Ormuz, en una operación militar que se produce en medio de informaciones de que Teherán está intentando desplegar explosivos navales en uno de los corredores energéticos más importantes del mundo.
Según informó el propio CENTCOM en una publicación difundida en redes sociales, la acción estuvo dirigida contra varias embarcaciones vinculadas con operaciones navales iraníes en la zona.
“Fuerzas estadounidenses eliminaron múltiples embarcaciones navales iraníes, el 10 de marzo, incluidos 16 buques minadores cerca del estrecho de Ormuz”, indicó el comando militar estadounidense.
El organismo acompañó su comunicado con un video en el que se observan ataques contra varias embarcaciones en el mar, seguidos de explosiones que destruyen los barcos. Las imágenes muestran proyectiles impactando contra los objetivos y columnas de humo elevándose desde los buques alcanzados.
El Estrecho de Ormuz conecta el Golfo Pérsico con el océano Índico y constituye uno de los puntos más sensibles del sistema energético global. Aproximadamente una quinta parte del petróleo que se consume en el planeta circula diariamente por esa estrecha vía marítima, utilizada por grandes productores de crudo de la región para exportar sus recursos a los mercados internacionales.
La posibilidad de que se coloquen minas en el área genera preocupación por el impacto que podría tener en la seguridad de la navegación y en el suministro energético mundial. Incluso interrupciones limitadas del tráfico en ese corredor pueden provocar efectos inmediatos en los precios del petróleo y en las cadenas logísticas internacionales.
Horas antes del anuncio del CENTCOM, el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, había informado que el ejército estadounidense había destruido varias embarcaciones relacionadas con estas actividades. En un mensaje difundido en redes sociales, el mandatario aseguró que las fuerzas estadounidenses habían atacado y destruido diez barcos utilizados para colocar minas.
“Me complace informar de que, en las últimas horas, hemos atacado y destruido por completo diez buques o embarcaciones minadores inactivos. ¡Y seguirán otros!”, escribió Trump.
Trump también lanzó una advertencia a Irán sobre las consecuencias de desplegar minas navales en esa ruta estratégica.
“Si por cualquier motivo se colocaran minas y no se retiraran de inmediato, las consecuencias militares para Irán serán de un nivel jamás visto”, afirmó el presidente estadounidense.
En el mismo mensaje, el mandatario añadió que la retirada de cualquier artefacto explosivo que haya podido ser colocado sería interpretada como un gesto positivo.
“Si, por el contrario, retiran lo que hayan podido colocar, será un paso gigantesco en la dirección correcta”, señaló.
Además, Trump indicó que las fuerzas estadounidenses están preparadas para actuar contra cualquier embarcación que participe en operaciones de minado en el estrecho. Según explicó, los buques implicados serían atacados con el mismo tipo de misiles utilizados por Estados Unidos para interceptar embarcaciones del narcotráfico en otras regiones.
“Serán tratados de forma expedita y violenta. ¡CUIDADO!”, advirtió el presidente.
El anuncio sobre la destrucción de los buques minadores se produce en un contexto de guerra regional que ha elevado significativamente las tensiones en Medio Oriente durante las últimas semanas. Desde el inicio de las hostilidades, Irán ha lanzado ataques contra Israel y contra intereses estadounidenses en varios países de la región.
En paralelo, el tráfico marítimo en el Estrecho de Ormuz se ha reducido considerablemente ante el aumento de los riesgos para la navegación, mientras los gobiernos y las compañías navieras siguen de cerca la evolución de la situación en uno de los puntos más estratégicos del comercio global.
(Con información de AFP)
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Entre los misiles de Irán y los ataques de Hezbollah: cómo se vive en el kibutz Hanita, el territorio israelí que limita con Líbano
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Russia has turned to its so-called «shadow fleet» to carry out a roughly $29.3 million «semi-dark» ship-to-ship oil transfer in the Gulf of Oman, deliberately sidestepping Western sanctions, according to reports.
Maritime intelligence firm Windward AI reported on March 8 that the Russian-flagged tanker M/V TRUST, a vessel already blacklisted by the U.S., European Union and United Kingdom, carried out a «high-probability» covert crude transfer in Omani territorial waters.
Based on an estimated price of about $90 per barrel on March 10, the cargo involved in the transfer was valued at roughly $29.3 million.
«The timing of the operation coincided with heightened military escalation in the Gulf following Operation Epic Fury, suggesting the vessel exploited regional instability to conduct the transfer under reduced scrutiny,» Windward said.
HORMUZ ERUPTS: ATTACKS, GPS JAMMING, HOUTHI THREATS ROCK STRAIT AMID US-ISRAELI STRIKES
A crude oil tanker sits anchored in Muscat during the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran in Muscat, Oman, March 6, 2026. (Reuters/Benoit Tessier)
The tanker had previously loaded approximately 325,000 barrels of Russian crude oil at the Russian port of Ust-Luga, Windward said.
Windward described the operation as a «semi-dark» activity, meaning one of the vessels transmitted its automatic identification system (AIS) signal while the other did not.
According to the firm, the M/V TRUST had anchored and switched off its AIS transponder while holding what it called a «prolonged stationary meeting» with another tanker, likely producing an anonymous vessel to transfer cargo process.
TRUMP SAYS IT’S AN ‘HONOR’ TO KEEP STRAIT OF HORMUZ OPEN FOR CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets the Russian delegation and some officials ahead of the Istanbul talks May 14, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. (Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A fully «dark» meeting, Windward said, typically involves two vessels not transmitting, but, in this case, only one ship appeared to be broadcasting, creating partial visibility that still complicates tracking efforts.
Such tactics are part of a broader strategy by Moscow to continue exporting crude despite sweeping Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The semi-dark oil transfer comes amid heightened volatility in global energy markets tied to the escalating conflict in the Middle East and limited traffic in the Strait of Hormuz given the joint U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran.
US SIGNALS READINESS TO ESCORT TANKERS THROUGH HORMUZ AS TRAFFIC THINS BUT NO MISSION LAUNCHED
A navy vessel sails in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas passes, March 1, 2026. (Sahar Al Attar/AFP via Getty Images)
Oil topped $100 a barrel March 9 as traders priced in the risk that the conflict was disrupting flows through the Strait, which carries about a fifth of global supply, CNBC reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 9 that Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter and holder of the largest natural gas reserves, stands ready to resume long-term energy cooperation with European customers if they choose to return, Reuters reported.
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Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that Russia «should not be involved» in the escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran.
His comments followed reports suggesting Moscow may be providing intelligence support to Tehran, though the Kremlin has not publicly confirmed the claims.
On Russia’s ship-to-ship semi-dark cargo transfer amid the ongoing conflict, Windward highlighted «operational blind spots that enable illicit maritime activity to proceed largely uninterrupted.»
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Estados Unidos anunció la destrucción de 16 embarcaciones iraníes utilizadas para minar el Estrecho de Ormuz
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