New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell has resigned after Gov. Mikie Sherrill called on him to step down following an independent investigation that found serious and repeated violations of state policy, including a substantiated finding of sexual harassment. CBS New York updated its report Friday to confirm that Sherrill announced Caldwell’s resignation.
Sherrill had given Caldwell until Friday to resign after releasing the findings of the investigation Thursday night. In her statement, she said the investigation found that Caldwell failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office and that the conduct identified in the report reflected a pattern that did not meet the standards of her administration.
Investigation Began After Anonymous Complaint
The investigation began in May after New Jersey’s chief ethics officer received an anonymous complaint regarding Caldwell’s conduct. The inquiry was conducted by Lowenstein Sandler LLP and led by former New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino.
The report found that Caldwell made a romantic advance toward a female staffer’s friend. After the advance was rejected, investigators found that he made a sexual remark to the staffer. The report concluded that the conduct violated New Jersey’s workplace policy and constituted sexual harassment.
The investigation also examined whether Caldwell violated the governor’s Code of Conduct and the state’s Uniform Ethics Code. Sherrill said the violations continued despite previous warnings and trainings.
Sherrill Said Resignation Was Necessary
In announcing the findings Thursday, Sherrill said Caldwell’s resignation was “necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents.” She also said her administration would not tolerate misconduct being ignored and emphasized that public officials must be held to state ethics and harassment standards.
Caldwell had served as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor and secretary of state, a role that also made him the state’s chief election officer.
His resignation marks a major change in the Sherrill administration only months into its first year, following an investigation that began in May and became public this week.
Sources: New Jersey Governor’s Office; Independent Investigation Report; CBS New York; ABC7 New York.
By NJ RADAR Team
[…] 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. […]