Former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell has broken his silence following his resignation, saying he stepped down not because he accepted the findings of a state misconduct investigation, but because he did not want to become a distraction for Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration.
In an on-camera interview Friday, Caldwell directly challenged the 61-page investigative report, calling it “ridiculous,” “specious” and “poorly done.”
VIDEO: Former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell speaks publicly following his resignation and explains why he decided to leave office.
Caldwell said his decision was intended to allow the Sherrill administration to continue its work without the controversy surrounding him becoming an obstacle.
“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.”
He also said that if his presence were to interfere with someone else’s ability to succeed, he was prepared to move on and continue his work as a private citizen. Caldwell said he remains supportive of Sherrill, describing her positively and noting that the two had exchanged text messages following his resignation.
His account differs sharply from the explanation offered by the governor.
Sherrill called for Caldwell’s resignation on September 24 after releasing the findings of an independent investigation conducted by Lowenstein Sandler LLP. According to the governor’s office, the investigation found “serious, repeated violations of state policy,” including ethical violations and a substantiated finding of sexual harassment.
Caldwell submitted his resignation the following day, September 25, and Sherrill accepted it. The governor said his departure would allow the administration to move forward and announced that she would select a permanent replacement for lieutenant governor.
Caldwell and his attorneys dispute the investigation’s conclusions. In his first public comments since leaving office, Caldwell encouraged people to read the report themselves and said his attorneys would address the specific allegations.
The resignation has created an unexpected leadership change only months into the Sherrill administration and just weeks before New Jersey’s midterm elections.
Shirley Emehelu has been named acting Secretary of State, while Sherrill has said she will move “swiftly and thoughtfully” in choosing a new lieutenant governor.
The public dispute now leaves New Jersey with two sharply different accounts: the administration says Caldwell’s resignation followed substantiated findings of misconduct, while Caldwell maintains that he left voluntarily to prevent the controversy from weighing on Sherrill’s administration.
Sources: Office of Governor Mikie Sherrill, State of New Jersey Investigation Report, Fox News Digital
By NJ RADAR Team