Former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell said Friday he resigned to avoid becoming a “distraction” to Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration, even as he disputed the findings of an independent ethics investigation that concluded he sexually harassed a staffer and improperly pushed for a promotion for a woman he was romantically involved with.
Caldwell stepped down one day after Sherrill publicly called for his resignation, following a months-long probe by an outside law firm hired by the state. The resulting 61-page report described repeated ethics violations, including a substantiated finding of sexual harassment.
Speaking on camera for the first time since resigning, to a reporter outside his home, Caldwell called the report “specious,” “ridiculous” and “poorly done.”
“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.”
“If I’m going to impede anybody else’s ability to be successful, then I can move on to something else,” he added, pointing to his past work as a university president and at the consulting firm Deloitte.
Asked directly about the allegations, Caldwell told people to read the report themselves but said he would only offer specifics through his attorney for now.
“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 said.
Caldwell said he had exchanged text messages with Sherrill on Friday, describing her as “a wonderful person” who “really means well,” though he offered no further detail on that exchange.
“This is one of those things that happens. And as I said, I’m going to continue to work as a private citizen. I’m freed up to do a lot more things. So I’m looking forward to supporting the administration and really supporting folks,” he said.
According to investigators, Caldwell told a female staffer that “you young women are looking for young sperm” after she informed him that a younger friend was not interested in a romantic relationship with him. The investigation concluded the remark amounted to sexual harassment and found Caldwell’s denial that he made the comment was not credible.
The report also cited other ethics violations, including bringing guests to ticketed events without reimbursement and seeking a promotion for a state employee with whom he was romantically involved.
Caldwell’s attorney, Thomas Calcagni, said Thursday that the defense team “strongly disputed the three findings in the investigation,” arguing its conclusions “go further than the evidence supports,” according to NBC News.
Sherrill rejected that criticism, calling the investigation “very thorough” and saying 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.” She described the sexual harassment findings as “substantiated” and said Caldwell had continued the conduct despite “multiple” ethics trainings and prior violations.
What happens next
Caldwell had also served as New Jersey’s Secretary of State, an office that oversees elections in the state. Sherrill said Friday that acting Comptroller Shirley Emehelu would take over as acting Secretary of State, with only weeks remaining before the midterm elections.
Under the New Jersey State Constitution, Sherrill has 45 days to permanently fill the lieutenant governor vacancy. She has confirmed she will name a successor within that window but does not plan to appoint an acting lieutenant governor in the meantime. Until a permanent appointment is made, Senate President Nicholas Scutari would be next in line to become governor in an emergency or if Sherrill leaves the state.
