Former New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell publicly stated on Friday that his resignation was intended "to make a difference" and not to hinder Governor Mikie Sherrill's work, directly challenging the conclusions of a sexual harassment and ethics investigation that led to his departure from office.
Caldwell's resignation occurred just one day after Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill publicly requested he step down, following a months-long independent ethics inquiry. The 61-page report detailed multiple ethics violations, including a "substantiated" finding of sexual harassment and repeated inappropriate attempts to secure a state job promotion for a woman with whom he was romantically involved.
Speaking on camera for the first time since leaving his post, Caldwell characterized the state's investigative report as "specious," "ridiculous," and "poorly done." He reiterated that his resignation was to prevent any "distraction" for the Sherrill administration.
"I'm not resigning because of that ridiculous report," Caldwell said. "I'm resigning because I don't want to be a distraction to the Mikie Sherrill administration."
Caldwell further elaborated on his decision, stating, "If I'm going to impede anybody else's ability to be successful, then I can move on to something else," referencing his professional background as a university president and his work at the Deloitte consulting firm.
Challenging the Investigation's Findings
When questioned about the specific allegations contained in the report, Caldwell advised individuals to read it for themselves but noted he was currently providing detailed responses only through his attorney.
"I just think it was poorly done. It was poorly done. I mean, I just think that there are ways that they could have done better. And I was just disappointed in the legal, the legal work in that," Caldwell remarked.
Caldwell also mentioned that he communicated with Governor Sherrill via text message on Friday, describing her as "a wonderful person" who "really means well," though he did not provide further specifics about their conversation.
"This is one of those things that happens. And as I said, I'm going to continue to work as a private citizen," Caldwell stated. "I'm freed up to do a lot more things. So, I'm looking forward to supporting the administration and really supporting folks."
Details of the Ethics Probe
The independent law firm hired by the state to conduct the probe into Caldwell's conduct concluded he violated ethics regulations. One incident involved Caldwell telling a female staffer, "you young women are looking for young sperm," after she informed him that a younger friend of hers was not interested in a romantic relationship with him. Investigators determined this comment constituted sexual harassment and found Caldwell’s denial of making the remark lacked credibility.
Additional findings from the investigation included violations of the code of conduct and ethics related to bringing guests to ticketed events without proper reimbursement, and his efforts to secure a promotion for a state employee with whom he was romantically involved.
Attorneys representing Caldwell stated on Thursday that they "strongly disputed the three findings in the investigation," asserting that its conclusions "go further than the evidence supports."
Governor Sherrill's Response and Succession
Governor Sherrill, however, dismissed the criticisms from Caldwell's lawyer regarding the investigation. She characterized the probe as "very thorough," adding that it "lays out exactly what the investigation looked into, who they contacted and spoke to, and I think lays out a pattern and practice of long-term concerning behavior."
The Governor also affirmed that the claims of sexual harassment were "substantiated" and indicated that Caldwell persisted in violating established standards despite undergoing "multiple" ethics trainings and receiving warnings about previous infractions.
Beyond his role as Lieutenant Governor, Caldwell also served as New Jersey’s Secretary of State, an office responsible for overseeing elections. Governor Sherrill announced Friday that Shirley Emehelu, the state’s acting comptroller, would assume the role of acting Secretary of State, with midterm elections just weeks away.
Under the New Jersey State Constitution, the governor must permanently fill a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor within 45 days. Addressing this transition, Sherrill confirmed her intention to appoint a permanent successor within this constitutionally mandated timeframe, but stated she does not plan to name an acting lieutenant governor in the interim period.
Without an interim lieutenant governor, the line of gubernatorial succession would default to Senate President Nicholas Scutari in the event of an emergency or if Governor Sherrill were to leave the state before a permanent appointment is finalized.
