New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill called for Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign after a report released Sept. 24 detailed state ethics violations and alleged that Caldwell sexually harassed a subordinate.
Sherrill said in a statement accompanying the report that Caldwell's resignation "is necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents."
The report said there was credible evidence Caldwell made a "romantic advance toward a female staffer’s friend" and made a lewd comment when he was rejected. It found that the comment "had the effect of unreasonably interfering with the staffer's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment."
Further, the report notes Caldwell brought personal guests to ticketed
events without clearance and without payment or reimbursement, even after multiple trainings and discussions on the ethics rules and code of conduct. It also states there is "credible evidence" that Caldwell tried more than once to promote a state employee he had a romantic relationship with.
The report adds that "several witnesses said they heard that the LG was looking for a 'first lady,' purportedly in connection with a potential future candidacy for governor" and that staffers interpreted comments about "executive presence" and having "one on each arm" to be about the physical appearance of staffers.
Caldwell has denied the allegations through his lawyers.
Lawyer: Caldwell 'not provided a meaningful opportunity to address' claims
Sherrill, a Democrat, said in her statement that Caldwell "engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office."
"In New Jersey, I will not accept a culture that sweeps misconduct under the rug. We have to be better than that — people expect and deserve better," she wrote in the statement.
Caldwell's representatives said in a statement to USA TODAY that the report's conclusions went further than the evidence supported and denied that he made the lewd remark.
The statement said that Caldwell "participated in the investigative process faithfully" and that the lieutenant governor did not receive "the requisite due process that should be afforded every citizen of this state."
"The lieutenant governor was not provided a meaningful opportunity to address each of these anonymousallegations or offer readily identifiable witnesses who possessed more pertinent, first-hand knowledge ofthe events in question," Thomas Calcagni, a lawyer for Caldwell, said in the statement.
The New Jersey Globe reported on Sept. 4 that Caldwell was the subject of an internal investigation for alleged inappropriate behavior with women and possible ethics violations that include the purported offer of state jobs.
The probe began after an anonymous complaint against Caldwell by letter was submitted to the state's chief ethics officer in May, according to the report. The probe was conducted by former state Attorney General Christopher Porrino.
Sherrill says report not a distraction from midterms
Caldwell serves as New Jersey's secretary of state, the state's top election official, in addition to his role as lieutenant governor.
In July, Sherrill announced that as many as 6,600 non-U.S. citizens registered to vote in New Jersey in 2023 and 2024 because of a software flaw, but that fewer than 400 cast ballots.
The governor noted that the non-citizens were registered as Democrats and Republicans, and said the findings did not support President Donald Trump’s claims of widespread noncitizen voter registration.
When asked by The Record if the report on Caldwell would cause a distraction in the upcoming midterm elections, Sherrill said her administration has been "working around the clock to make sure that our elections are ready to go" and that they are "fair and safe."
The governor would not confirm or deny any restrictions or guardrails on Caldwell's power. Her office would not comment on whether her upcoming schedule would include any out-of-state travel that would cause Caldwell to become acting governor.
Both Sherrill and Caldwell took office in January.
Contributing: Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NJ Gov. Sherrill calls for lieutenant governor to resign after probe
