BETHLEHEM, Pa. — An internal probe by the U.S. Air Force found it illegally released the records of a Lehigh Valley congressional candidate in 2021.
Kevin Dellicker, a Republican from New Tripoli, said he was notified by the Air Force Personnel Center that his confidential military record was improperly released.
- Kevin Dellicker said his confidential military record was illegally released to a political researcher
- Dellicker lost the GOP primary for the Lehigh Valley's congressional seat in 2022
- An Air Force internal probe found the branch improperly released the records of 11 people, according to Politico
Politico has reported that the records of 11 people, including two members of Congress, were improperly released to Abraham Payton, who works for a research firm with ties to a political action committee that supports Democrats.
“I trust that federal law enforcement authorities will investigate and prosecute this brazen attack on military information systems,” Dellicker said Tuesday night in a news release.
“I hope they follow the money trail to see who paid this sleazy firm for its illegal activities.”
Dellicker isn't alone. U.S. Reps. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, and Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, have called on the Justice Department for a criminal investigation after their records also were released, Politico reports.
“I hope they follow the money trail to see who paid this sleazy firm for its illegal activities.”Kevin Dellicker, former Lehigh Valley congressional candidate
The Air Force's internal probe came after Politico reported on the records of Jennifer-Ruth Green, a Republican who ran for an Indiana House seat. The records included information that Green was the victim of sexual assault during her service.
The Air Force has acknowledged it erred in releasing information about Green and Bacon. In Bacon's case, the information was released to Payton after he improperly indicated it was tied to Bacon's employment and benefits, according to a letter to Bacon.
Under federal law, the Air Force needed the authorization of the 11 individuals before releasing their records. The probe found the Air Force official who wrongly released those records did not have malicious intent, according to a letter sent to Bacon.
Sam Chen, Dellicker's political consultant, said Dellicker received a similar letter earlier this month. He was not aware of how many others were similarly affected until Politico released its report Tuesday night.
"They need to tighten this up so it doesn’t happen to other airmen," Dellicker said of the Air Force in his news release.
Dellicker is an intelligence officer with the Air Force Reserve. He lost a tight Republican primary against former Lehigh County Commissioner Lisa Scheller for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District in 2022.
Incumbent Democrat Susan Wild echoed many of his attacks against Scheller in the general election, especially her business ties to China.
