Sherrill calls for N.J. Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign after investigation

✅Gov. Mikie Sherrill says an investigation found repeated violations of state policy

✅ Sherrill says the findings include substantiated sexual harassment

✅ The governor is giving Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell until Friday to resign

Gov. Mikie Sherrill is calling for New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign by Friday after an investigation determined he "engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy," according to the governor.

The New Jersey Globe first reported allegations of inappropriate behavior involving women and an offer of a state job involving Caldwell, who also serves as New Jersey's secretary of state. The Globe reported that Sherrill's administration launched the investigation and that former New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino is leading it.

"If the evidence warrants, I will take appropriate action quickly," Sherrill said.

READ: The investigative report into Lt. Gov. Dr. Dale G. Caldwell

READ: Statement from Lt. Gov. Dr. Dale G. Caldwell

Sherrill cites sexual harassment finding in investigation

In a statement Thursday night, Sherrill said Caldwell "failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office." She called for his resignation and gave him until Friday to do so.

The governor did not disclose specific allegations examined by the investigation. She said the investigation examined the evidence, followed the facts and protected everyone's privacy.

"These violations substantiated in the investigation reflect a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this Administration. The ethical lapses persisted despite multiple warnings and trainings. The substantiated finding of sexual harassment is extremely troubling. I've seen firsthand how a hostile culture can undermine everyone's ability to succeed. It's insidious and ruptures the trust within an organization," Sherrill said.

Sherrill called the investigation "thorough and impartial." She said it was conducted by her administration's chief ethics officer and a "respected former Attorney General."

Caldwell's attorney Thomas Calcagni issued a statement that disputed three findings of the investigation.

“This unnecessarily protracted and one-sided process lacked the requisite due process that should be afforded every citzen of this state. The Lieutenant Governor was not provided a meaningful opportunity to address each of these anonymous allegatons or offer readily identifiable witnesses who possessed more pertnent, first-hand knowledge of the events in question," Calcagni said.

Calcagni  denied an allegation that Caldwell made an inappropriate comment during a car ride and said there is no evidence of the comment.

"The investigators cited a photograph as part of the evidence supportng the allegation. But the photograph, which was redacted in the report, only establishes that an individual took a photograph on a partcular date and time. It does not establish that the individual was with the Lt. Gov. at the time or, if she was, what was said during any conversation," Calcagni said.

Calcagni said that Caldwell denies intentionally misusing his office attending an event and reimbursed $175 for an unspecified event.

The attorney also said Caldwell did forward the resume of a state employee he believed was qualified for a position with greater responsibility he did not use his office to obtain a government benefit for the individual.

“The report cites no evidence indicating that Dr. Caldwell ordered anyone to promote her, or controlled the hiring decision or demanded that she receive a new position,” Calcagni said. And, most importantly, “she did not receive a promoton, a raise or any other State benefit and ultimately left state government.”

Reaction to the report

State Sen. Tony Bucco, R-Morris, said the situation creates a distraction less than a month from the midterm election. The long this goes it becomes a bigger problem for the Sherrill administration and the state.

"I don't think we can afford to have a prolonged and distracting situation here. This needs to be resolved, and it needs to be resolved once and for all," Bucco said. "This needs to come to a conclusion, and for for all parties involved, and I think for the state more importantly."

Bucco said that once the situation is resolved a closer look should be taken at the need for the office of lieutenant governor.

"There's huge expenses associated with that office, and you know it may be something that the legislature should consider," Bucco said.

Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, says Sherrill and Caldwell have reached an impasse.

"We don't know ultimately how this is going to play out. The lieutenant governor could resign quickly and quietly. But frankly that doesn't seem to be the path he has chosen. He's assembled a team to defend him. He's digging in. He hasn't resigned yet. He almost certainly has been given the chance to resign already, and so it seems he's choosing a path to stay and fight," Rasmussen said.

If Caldwell stays on Rasmussen says the governor could make life difficult.

"She is the one who determines whether he has staff. She's the one who determines whether he has a budget for his office. She's the one who determines whether he has responsibilities that he has to carry out, and so she can make life difficult for him," Rasmussen said. "I don't know whether or not there would be legal trouble outside of this that's playing out. I don't have the answer to that, but certainly she holds all the cards."

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