Dale Caldwell Resigns as New Jersey Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, Dale Caldwell, resigned on Friday following an independent investigation that confirmed allegations of sexual harassment and ethics violations against him, as announced by Governor Mikie Sherrill. During a press conference in Trenton, Sherrill stated, “The investigation revealed that the lieutenant governor did not fulfill the responsibilities of his position and exhibited a pattern of behavior incompatible with our administration’s standards.” She emphasized that the report detailed serious and repeated breaches of state policies, highlighting both ethical failures and a confirmed instance of sexual harassment.

Sherrill mentioned that she had given Caldwell until that day to resign and that she accepted his resignation submitted in the afternoon.

In the wake of Caldwell’s departure, Sherrill appointed Shirley Emehelu, the state comptroller, as the acting secretary of state, a position Caldwell had also held. Sherrill indicated that it was crucial to fill this role promptly, especially with midterm elections approaching in just 39 days. “It’s essential for our elections to proceed without issues, and for New Jersey residents to have confidence in the officials managing them,” she remarked.

The investigation revealed Caldwell had made a troubling remark to a female staff member, commenting, “you young women are looking for young sperm,” after she mentioned that her younger friend wasn’t interested in a relationship with him. This remark was deemed sexual harassment by the investigators, who found Caldwell’s denial of the claim unconvincing.

Previously, Caldwell had denied any wrongdoing, describing the allegations against him as false and misleading, and he had expressed his belief that the facts would ultimately clear his name.