New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell has resigned after investigators found “credible evidence” of sexual harassment and other wrongdoing.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced his resignation at a news conference Friday afternoon after calling for him to step down while releasing the investigative report Thursday evening.
“His decision will allow us to move forward with important work serving the people of our state,” said Sherrill, who was inaugurated with Caldwell by her side in January.
“I will move swiftly and thoughtfully in choosing a new lieutenant governor who will represent my administration and the people of New Jersey with honor and integrity.”
The governor released a 61-page report from a monthlong investigation conducted by an outside law firm late Thursday afternoon. The report said Caldwell made inappropriate comments to women and violated ethics rules. Caldwell, a minister, is the former president of Centenary University.
Sherrill called for him to resign by Friday, but it was unclear whether he would listen. Caldwell denied the investigation’s findings through his attorney, who argued Caldwell was not given an opportunity to meaningfully address the accusations in the report or provide his own witnesses.
Sherrill emphasized Friday that she wanted to “make sure everyone was treated fairly and justly” and called the investigation thorough and impartial.
“After I received the report and the facts were clear, I took action right away,” Sherrill said, in what may have been a nod to earlier criticism that she didn’t confirm the investigation while it was underway. “Let me be clear: all credible allegations of misconduct must be fully investigated and addressed. In my administration, we are committed to doing what is right, not what is politically expedient.”
The investigation found Caldwell hit on a female staffer’s friend, and when she turned him down, he told the staffer that ambitious women like them needed a man in a position to help them, “but you young women are looking for young sperm.”
Caldwell denied making the comments, “but we did not find his denial credible,” the report said.
Replacing Caldwell
Sherrill did not have the power to fire Caldwell, so his resignation prevents potential impeachment proceedings in Trenton. The governor has 45 days to pick his replacement.
In the meantime, New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari will lead the state in her absence. Sherrill traveled to campaign for Democrats in congressional races in other states earlier in the summer, leaving Caldwell in charge. But she stopped after the investigation became public knowledge.
Sherrill said she spoke to Caldwell on Thursday and texted with him on Friday, and that he resigned to let her administration continue with its agenda amid “all of the attacks from the federal government on affordability, voting rights.”
Caldwell’s attorney, Thomas Calcagni, said in a statement late Friday that his client continues to dispute the allegations in the report and would be exploring “all legal remedies” to contest its findings.
“We continue to forcefully challenge the report. 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,” Calcagni said.
As fragments of the allegations leaked out over the weeks, some of Caldwell’s friends and allies shared messages of support about his character and record of service. And while he did not speak publicly as news of the investigation surfaced, a May letter he wrote to the ethics commission forcefully denying the claims — and alleging racism — was leaked to media.
On Friday, a group of self-described Black “faith, civic, and community leaders” commended his decision to resign.
“By choosing to step down and ending this controversy, he has put the interests of the people of New Jersey and the work of our state ahead of himself,” the group said in a statement, which included U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D., Mercer), New Jersey Democratic Committee Chair LeRoy Jones, among others.
Democratic state legislators remained largely quiet before Caldwell announced his resignation, but many were relieved to see Caldwell step down.
Assemblymember Anthony Angelozzi, a Burlington County Democrat, said he was “appalled” with the findings of the report.
“The idea of using your government position for personal benefit and harassing women, as someone who has staff members who are female and a daughter, I wouldn’t want to put any woman in a compromised position like that,” he said.
Assemblymember Balivir Singh floated another Burlington County Democrat, State Sen. Troy Singleton, as an ideal replacement for Caldwell.
“You look for a person with integrity … and I would think my senator is the best,” Singh said.
As lieutenant governor, Caldwell served a dual role as the state’s top election official. With his resignation less than 40 days before the midterm election, Sherrill appointed Acting Comptroller Shirley Emehelu to serve as secretary of state on an acting basis.
“For months at this point, the Department of State team has been hard at work preparing for the upcoming elections in partnership with local and county election officials. I will make sure their work proceeds as planned,” Emehelu said.
The investigation into Caldwell was conducted by former Attorney General Christopher Porrino — who worked under former Republican Gov. Chris Christie — and his law firm. The probe had been going on since at least May.
Road crews had begun removing Caldwell’s name from state signs on I-95 as of Friday, but the scandal is still likely to dominate New Jersey politics for the foreseeable future.
Christine Giordano Hanlon, chair of the New Jersey GOP, called Sherrill’s handling of the investigation a “failure.”
“Caldwell’s resignation is not accountability for everything that happened before it,” she said. “There are many more questions that will need to be answered.”
‘Long-term concerning behavior’ outlined in report
Sherrill said the report “lays out a pattern and practice of long-term concerning behavior.” She said her decision shows the “culture change” she has pushed for in Trenton.
“What was so important to me was to make sure that if there are substantiated claims of sexual harassment and ethics violations, that I, as the leader of the government, handle that,” she said.
“There has been a culture in Trenton, probably since the birth of our nation, to sweep this under the rug,” she said. “You can speak to numerous people who’ve worked in the statehouse for decades who felt this day would never come, that allegations would never be taken seriously, action would never be taken, and victims would just have to either quit their job or move on.”
According to the report, less than a month after being spoken to and given training on workplace conduct and ethics, and four days after he was told about the investigation, Caldwell tried to get a promotion for a state employee he was dating.
Caldwell’s attorney said the lieutenant governor forwarded the employee’s resume and did not disclose the two had a personal relationship.
The report also details comments Caldwell allegedly made about wanting a “first lady.” One staffer said he asked her to find him someone and another recalled him suggesting that he would need a wife in order to run for governor and to let him know if she comes across someone suitable. Caldwell admitted to making comments to staffers about wanting a “first lady” but said he wasn’t serious and other people in the office made similar kinds of jokes, the report said.
He also repeatedly made comments about staffers having “executive appearance,” which came across to some staffers as a judgment on women’s physical attractiveness. Caldwell said the term was about how both men and women carry themselves, not physical appearance, the report said.
Caldwell repeatedly brought personal guests to ticketed events without clearing it with the ethics officer and without paying for the extra tickets, a practice that continued even after warnings, attending an ethics training, and being told about the investigation, the report said. His attorney said when Caldwell “learned that reimbursement was appropriate in one particular situation, he reimbursed $175 for the event.”
He was also accused of providing his business card to women he wanted to date, but he said in his May letter that he gives his business card to more men than women.
“I have never asked anyone out on a date, ‘hit on,’ or pursued anyone romantically while conducting official business as Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State,” he said at the time.
Staff writers Susan K. Livio, Sarah Nicell, and Lacey Latch contributed reporting.
