New Jersey lieutenant governor resigns after sexual harassment accusation

Investigation determined Dale Caldwell violated state ethics rules and engaged in harassing behavior

Dale Caldwell, the lieutenant governor of New Jersey, resigned from his position on Friday, after the release of a report accusing him of sexually harassing a female staffer, among other ethics violations.

New Jersey’s governor, Mikie Sherrill, announced on Friday afternoon that Caldwell had submitted his resignation to her earlier in the day.

The decision by Caldwell, 66, came one day after Sherrill called on him to step down after an investigation determined he violated state ethics rules and engaged in behavior that constituted sexual harassment.

The 61-page report said it found credible evidence that Caldwell made romantic advances toward a female staffer’s friend, tried to secure a promotion for his girlfriend and gave tickets to personal guests without reimbursement.

The New Jersey Globe was the first to report on Caldwell’s resignation.

Thomas Calcagni, a lawyer for Caldwell, said in a statement they would “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. “Counsel is fully exploring all legal remedies to ensure a true, balanced, and unbiased record.”

Sherrill, a Democrat, said she would appoint the state’s acting comptroller, Shirley Emehelu, as the acting lieutenant governor.

“We can no longer tolerate the culture of silence, sweeping things under the rug or kicking cans down the road,” Sherrill said Friday at press conference in Trenton, the state capital. “New Jerseyans deserve fairness and they deserve accountability.”

The change-up comes just weeks before midterm elections, which the lieutenant governor is responsible for overseeing.

The New Jersey governor initiated an investigation into Caldwell in May after receiving an anonymous letter that accused him of “bringing uninvited female guests to events while traveling using taxpayer funds” and “hitting on women at functions”.

Ultimately, investigators concluded that aspects of the allegations were credible.

In one instance, investigators said Caldwell made a romantic advance toward a female staffer’s friend and then made a “derogatory or demeaning reference” about women after his advances were rebuffed.

Caldwell allegedly told the staffer that women like them were ambitious and successful and needed a man in a position to help them, “but you young women are looking for young sperm”.

Investigators also found that Caldwell advocated for the promotion of his girlfriend, a state employee, to a “senior leadership position”. Caldwell acknowledged that he did not disclose the nature of his relationship with the state employee until he was confronted.

Caldwell had pushed for his girlfriend’s promotion, even after being informed he was under investigation. Ultimately, she did not get the promotion and no longer works in state government.

Credible evidence also determined Caldwell brought at least three personal guests, including his girlfriend, to ticketed events, in his capacity as lieutenant governor, without advance authorization or payment.

After Sherrill announced the report’s findings and called for Caldwell to resign, it was unclear whether or not he would step down.

As lieutenant governor, Caldwell was also serving as New Jersey’s secretary of state, who is the chief elections officer.

With just 39 days until the midterm elections, Sherrill said she was tapping Emehelu to ensure “all eligible New Jerseyans can make their voices heard”.

“Shirley is a veteran of the US Department of Justice and the New Jersey attorney general’s office. She has the judgment to run these elections and the strength to stand up to Trump’s attacks on voting,” Sherrill added.

Sherrill has 45 days to name a permanent replacement for Caldwell.