Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) are calling for investigation after learning their military records were improperly released during midterm campaign season, Politico exclusively reported Tuesday.
“I understand the evidence has been turned over to the Department of Justice and I expect those who break the law to be prosecuted,” Bacon said a statement to the outlet.
“This was more than just ‘dirty tricks’ by Democrat operatives, but likely violations of the law,” Bacon also said.
“The recent targeting of Members of Congress’s personnel military records [and] the breach of sensitive data … taken by political hacks isn’t only a violation of public trust — it’s criminal,” Nunn told the outlet.
Bacon is calling for a probe of Democrat-linked opposition research firm Due Diligence LLC. The Air Force identified an employee of Due Diligence, Abraham Payton, as the individual who inappropriately requested Bacon’s records — a request the Air Force wrongly honored.
Federal Election Commission records show Due Diligence Group received more than $110,000 from the House Democratic campaign arm between January 2021 and December 2022, Politico reported.
Bacon and Nunn were reportedly among 11 people whose records were inappropriately released.
According to Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek, “virtually all” 11 were released to the same third-party requester.
“The Air Force Personnel Center Military Records Branch received multiple requests from Abraham Payton, Background Investigative Analyst with Due Diligence, LLC, for your military records,” a letter to Bacon from United States Air Force Major General Troy Dunn reads in part.
“[Payton] inappropriately requested copies of your military records,” the letter also says.
Payton, Politico reports, already had Bacon’s Social Security number when he made the request for Bacon’s personnel records. Payton formerly served as research director for a Democratic political group called American Bridge.
The letter to Bacon goes on to outline the measures the Air Force took to help ensure the unauthorized release of personally identifiable information did not occur again. The letter also states that investigation of the matter determined “there was no criminal action or malicious intent by the [Air Force] employee in the records breach.”
The Air Force reportedly informed both Bacon and Nunn of the “unauthorized release” of their military records.
Last week, Bacon was put in charge of leading a new House Armed Services subcommittee called the “quality of life panel.” The panel is charged with addressing the unique challenges military families face that may cause them to leave the service or some never to join at all.
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