House Judiciary Committee investigating unauthorized disclosure of Air Force records

TThe House Judiciary Committee will launch an investigation into the unauthorised disclosure of Air Force records by military personnel to several individuals, including some Republican congressional candidates.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, (Republican from Ohio) and Rep. Chris Stewart, (Republican from Utah) sent a Thursday letter to Secretary of Air Force Frank Kendall asking for details regarding the unauthorized disclosure.

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“Recent public reports have disclosed that the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (OSAF) improperly released information from several additional servicemembers’ personnel files to political operatives. As alleged in the reporting, this is a serious breach of law and servicemember privacy. To advance our oversight and to inform potential legislative reforms, we write to request information about this serious breach of our servicemembers’ personal information,” The letter stated.

As a basis for the investigation, the letter accuses the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force of violating federal laws.

“In late February 2023, media reports highlighted how the OSAF improperly disclosed Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) of 11 servicemembers without appropriate authorization or lawful consent. The OSAF reportedly released the personnel files of at least two Members of Congress to an opposition research firm that received money from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Subsequent reporting indicated that the OSAF’s dissemination of sensitive personal information may have affected more than just these 11 individuals. In doing so, OSAF may have violated Department of Defense policies and federal law.”

The congressmen want all communications and documents related to the unauthorized publication, including information about processes and regulations and information on what was disclosed to those who were affected and the group that had access to the files. The secretary of the Air Force was given a deadline by Stewart and Jordan at 5 p.m.

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Reps. Don Bacon and Zach Nunn (R–NE) were among those whose Air Force records were obtained from a public record firm with ties the Democratic Party. Bacon and Nunn called last month for an investigation. Bacon said that he expects anyone who has violated the law, to be prosecuted.