Former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell is publicly challenging the investigation that led to his resignation, saying the allegations against him are false and that he believes he was “set up.”
Caldwell resigned on September 25 after Gov. Mikie Sherrill called for him to step down following an independent investigation that found repeated violations of state policy, including a substantiated finding of sexual harassment.
Caldwell Disputes the Investigation
In a detailed written response, Caldwell argued that investigators reached false conclusions, ignored witnesses who contradicted the central allegations and did not give him a meaningful opportunity to respond before the report was released.
He said he was interviewed relatively early in the investigation but was never brought back to address additional evidence or the final findings.
“I was not given a chance to respond to the findings before the report was released and the Governor called for my resignation,” Caldwell wrote.
Caldwell also denied one of the report’s central allegations involving an alleged romantic advance toward a staffer’s friend. He said he never asked the woman to go dancing and argued that investigators never interviewed her directly.
State Investigation Found Sexual Harassment and Ethics Violations
The independent investigation was conducted by former New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino and the law firm Lowenstein Sandler.
The report concluded that Caldwell violated New Jersey’s workplace discrimination policy and state ethics rules.
Among its findings, investigators said Caldwell made a romantic advance toward a female staffer’s friend and later made a sexualized comment to the staffer after the advance was rejected. The report found that the conduct constituted sexual harassment.
Sherrill said the investigation was thorough and impartial and that Caldwell’s resignation was necessary because the findings showed “serious, repeated violations of state policy.”
Caldwell Says Evidence Was Mishandled
Caldwell has continued to argue that the report gave too much weight to one staffer’s account while discounting other witnesses.
He has said there is no credible evidence supporting the sexual-harassment finding and has criticized the process used to reach the conclusions.
His position directly conflicts with the state investigation, which said the allegations were supported by credible evidence.
Church Opens Separate Review
Caldwell is also facing a separate review by the United Methodist Church, where he serves as a pastor.
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi confirmed that the denomination had received a complaint involving Caldwell and had begun reviewing it under church procedures.
Caldwell says that process involves no new allegations and was automatically triggered by the earlier state investigation.
“The United Methodist Investigation is simply standard procedure if a pastor has been investigated. It’s nothing new,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell Continues to Fight the Findings
Since leaving office, Caldwell has repeatedly maintained that he was falsely accused.
Two days after resigning, he returned to his Plainfield church and delivered a sermon titled “When Lies Become Weapons,” focusing on false accusations and the search for truth.
The state, meanwhile, continues to stand by the investigation and its conclusions.
The result is now a sharp public dispute between Caldwell, who says he was unfairly targeted, and the Sherrill administration, which says an independent investigation substantiated serious misconduct.
Sources: New Jersey Governor’s Office, Independent Investigation Report, New Jersey Globe
By NJ RADAR Team