TRENTON – New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned Friday after an independent investigation found he sexually harassed a female staff member and violated state ethics rules.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the resignation less than a day after releasing the report and calling on Caldwell to step down.
The four-month investigation substantiated three policy violations. Investigators found that Caldwell engaged in inappropriate conduct toward a staff member, brought personal guests to ticketed events without paying for their admission and sought a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.
Caldwell’s attorney, Thomas Calcagni, disputed the findings, saying the report’s conclusions went further than the evidence supported.
The findings prompted calls for Caldwell’s resignation from leaders in both parties. Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, a Republican, also questioned why Caldwell remained in office during the investigation and called on Sherrill to consider resigning.
Under the New Jersey Constitution, Sherrill has 45 days to appoint a lieutenant governor to serve the rest of Caldwell’s term.
