Lt. Gov. Caldwell resigns after sexual harassment and ethics complaints
On Thursday, Gov. Mikie Sherrill called on Caldwell to step down after an independent investigation revealed that he "engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office.”
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Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned Friday after Gov. Mikie Sherrill demanded he step down over accusations of inappropriate behavior with women and ethics lapses.
The governor had given Caldwell until Friday to step down.
Sherrill said she was committed to changing what she said was a longstanding problem in state government with people turning a blind eye to sexual harassment.
“There has been a culture in Trenton, probably since the birth of our nation, to sweep this under the rug,” she said at a news conference announcing the resignation.
“That is not the kind of government I’m running,” she added. “When I say there is a culture change taking place, I mean it.”
Republicans have hammered Sherrill for weeks on the investigation into Caldwell, who serves as acting governor in her absence. He also oversees elections as New Jersey’s secretary of state, and his resignation comes weeks ahead of midterm elections that will decide who controls Congress.
Sherrill picked Caldwell, a Methodist pastor and former president of Centenary University, as her running mate last year. They took office in January, but within four months, Caldwell had become the subject of an anonymous complaint about his behavior with women.
She called for Caldwell to resign on Thursday after a law firm she hired concluded he behaved inappropriately around women.
RELATED: Gov. Sherrill calls on Lt. Gov. Caldwell to resign following misconduct investigation
Caldwell has disputed the allegations and initially showed no signs he would leave office willingly. Attorney Thomas R. Calcagni, counsel to Caldwell, issued a statement ot News 12 following the resignation.
"We continue to forcefully challenge the report," Calcagni wrote. "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."
In New Jersey, a governor can’t fire the lieutenant governor because the post is independently elected. But the state's second-in-command can be impeached and removed from office by the Legislature. A governor can strip a lieutenant governor of nearly all duties and responsibilities, effectively sidelining them from the administration.
In a report released Thursday, the lawyers said Caldwell had committed several violations of state policy. It said Caldwell, 66, had made an advance toward a staff member’s friend and when he was rebuffed told the staffer, “you young women are looking for young sperm.”
See the full report below:
The report also said Caldwell had tried to get a promotion for a state employee he was dating and brought personal guests to the opera and other ticketed events without paying for them, as required by ethics rules.
In a letter included in the law firm’s report, Caldwell said he suspected his relationships with women were being subjected to extra scrutiny because he was a single Black man.
Caldwell’s lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, previously said his client “categorically denies” making the sperm statement but acknowledged that Caldwell had recommended the woman for a promotion, though he denied ordering anyone to promote her. Caldwell denied other claims, including that he gives out his business cards to women for inappropriate reasons.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
