Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell has agreed to resign after an investigation corroborated allegations of sexual harassment and ethics violations, Governor Mikie Sherrill said today.
Caldwell “demonstrated a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this administration,” Sherrill said at a press conference in Trenton. He submitted his resignation this afternoon, she said.
Last night, Sherrill released the results of an internal investigation which found that Caldwell made a romantic advance toward a female staffer’s friend, brought personal guests to ticketed events without ethics clearance, payment or reimbursement, and attempted multiple times to secure a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship. Caldwell continued his behavior even after he was warned about his conduct and received ethics trainings, according to the findings.
Sherrill had given Caldwell until today to resign.
Caldwell had repeatedly denied the claims, and his attorney had said the investigation did not support the findings. Still, the allegations had consumed Trenton politics in recent weeks, and Sherrill said Caldwell agreed to step aside so her administration could continue with its agenda.
“We continue to forcefully challenge the report,” said Thomas Calcagni, counsel to Caldwell. “Dr. Caldwell’s resignation, submitted to put an end to the targeted campaign to discredit his character, does not in any way diminish our outrage concerning the investigative process and its specious findings. Counsel is fully exploring all legal remedies to ensure a true, balanced, and unbiased record.”
Caldwell, 66, was New Jersey’s fourth modern lieutenant governor, and the first man in that job. A Methodist pastor and former college president, Caldwell ran as a joint candidate on Sherrill’s ticket. They took office in January.
Sherrill today thanked Caldwell for his service, noting his work for the administration’s business agenda and addressing challenges facing black communities.
Sherrill said she did not anticipate appointing an acting lieutenant, and would move swiftly to pick a replacement. She did appoint acting comptroller Shirley Emehelu as acting secretary of state. Sherill had appointed Caldwell as secretary of state after the election.
Given that the midterms are approaching, and the secretary of state is the state’s chief election officer, Sherrill said Emehelu’s appointment was necessary to ensure elections run smoothly.
The Caldwell investigation was sparked by an anonymous three-paragraph letter sent to state officials in May that accused Caldwell of bringing “uninvited female guests” to events, and asking women out on dates at events.
The report revealed additional accusations, including that Caldwell “made a romantic advance toward a female staffer’s friend” and “attempted on multiple occasions to secure a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.”
News of the investigation was first reported in early September by the New Jersey Globe. Several lawmakers had blasted Sherrill for a lack of transparency and called for the release of the investigation report. Some had called on Sherrill not to travel out of state so that Caldwell could not serve as acting governor while the investigation was ongoing.
Sherrill defended her delay in speaking about the accusations and defended the investigation as “thorough and impartial.”
“All credible allegations of misconduct must be fully investigated and addressed,” she said. “We are committed to doing what is right, not what is politically expedient.”
With Caldwell out, Sherrill said she expected the job of acting governor would fall to the next in line, the Senate president, if she traveled out of state.
