Who Is Dale Caldwell? NJ Lieutenant Governor Resigns After Ethics Probe - Newsweek

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell has resigned after an independent investigation substantiated three workplace and ethics violations, including sexual harassment.

On Thursday, Governor Mikie Sherrill issued Caldwell a 24-hour deadline to step down following the release of a 61-page investigative ethics report. That investigation found “serious, repeated violations of state policy," Sheriff wrote in a statement, adding that Caldwell had “failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office.”

“I gave the lieutenant governor until today to resign. He submitted his resignation to me this afternoon, which I accepted," Sherill said during a Friday press conference announcing Caldwell's resignation as lieutenant governor and secretary of state.

That ethics report found that Caldwell made a sexual comment to a female staffer, brought personal guests to ticketed events without required payment or clearance and used his position to seek a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.

Sherrill said the investigation findings reflected a pattern of behavior that did not meet the standards of her administration.

“The substantiated finding of sexual harassment is extremely troubling,” Sherrill said.

However, the governor said she appreciated Caldwell’s service during the campaign and the first months of her administration, and credited Caldwell with working to address longstanding challenges facing Black communities in New Jersey.

“His decision will allow us to move forward with important work serving the people of our state,” Sherrill said.

Sherrill said she would move “swiftly and thoughtfully” to select a new lieutenant governor, adding that she would look for someone focused on public service and the public good.

Newsweek reached out to Caldwell's office for comment via email outside of normal business hours.

With Caldwell also serving as New Jersey secretary of state, Sherrill announced that Acting Comptroller Shirley Mahalo would temporarily take over as acting secretary of state.

The appointment comes 39 days before the midterm elections.

Sherrill said Mahalo has experience at both the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and would oversee the Department of State as it prepares for the November election.

“I have full faith that Shirley and the team at the Department of State will make sure all eligible New Jerseyans can make their voices heard this November,” Sherrill said.

Mahalo said the department had been preparing for the elections for months in partnership with local and county election officials.

“New Jersey elections will be conducted freely, fairly, and with integrity,” Mahalo said. “Every eligible voter will have the chance to cast a ballot, and every legal ballot will be counted.”

Sherrill said she expects to select a new lieutenant governor within the next 45 days.

She said there is an established order for who would assume responsibility for the state when the governor is absent, with the Senate president next in line.

Sherrill said she does not anticipate having an acting lieutenant governor during the 45-day period while the administration works through the process of selecting a replacement. She said her chief counsel would review the legal requirements because the situation presents a relatively new issue for New Jersey.

Caldwell is New Jersey’s fourth lieutenant governor and 35th secretary of state, serving alongside Sherrill. As secretary of state, he leads the Department of State and serves as New Jersey’s chief election officer.

His official biography lists a long background in education, community service and ministry.

Caldwell has served as a United Methodist pastor at Covenant United Methodist Church in Plainfield, New Jersey, since 2021, according to the church website. He also has served for 26 years on the New Brunswick Board of Education. "Service, faith, and justice are deeply rooted in his family legacy," his biography reads.

Before joining the administration, Caldwell was president of Centenary University. His career has included leadership positions at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the Newark Alliance and Deloitte Consulting. He has a daughter in college.

The investigation began with an anonymous letter dated May 6 that was received by the governor’s office chief ethics officer the following week.

The report substantiated a violation of New Jersey’s Workplace Policy, finding that Caldwell made a romantic advance toward a female staffer’s friend. After the advance was rebuffed, Caldwell told the staffer, referring to her and her friend, “you young women are looking for young sperm,” according to the report.

Investigators said the comment was sexual in nature and caused the staffer to change how she interacted with Caldwell, distance herself from him and avoid traveling with him when possible. The report concluded that his conduct constituted sexual harassment and was derogatory or demeaning based on sex.

Caldwell denied making the comment, but investigators said they did not find his denial credible.

The report also found that Caldwell made multiple attempts to seek a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship without initially disclosing the relationship. Investigators said the conduct violated ethics rules governing officials’ involvement in matters concerning people they are dating. The employee was not promoted and no longer works for the state.

Investigators also found that Caldwell violated state ethics rules by bringing personal guests to seven ticketed events without the required payment or reimbursement. The report said ticket prices for those events ranged from $65 to $300.

The letter, signed by a “concerned” New Jersey resident, alleged that Caldwell brought uninvited female guests to events while traveling on taxpayer-funded trips. It also accused him of repeatedly handing out his business card to women and asking them out on dates.

“Enough is enough! He should not be trying to get dates while he is traveling on the taxpayer’s dime,” the person wrote. “Please put a stop to this shameless and corrupt behavior,” the letter concludes.

At the news conference following Caldwell’s resignation, Sherrill defended the investigation and urged people to read the full report.

“As a former federal prosecutor, it is important to me that everyone have a fair hearing,” she said, adding that the state ethics officer initiated the investigation after complaints were received.

Sherrill said she read the full report Thursday morning after being briefed more broadly on its findings earlier in the week.

Responding to criticism from Caldwell’s attorney that he was not given a meaningful opportunity to respond to the allegations, Sherrill said the report documented who investigators contacted and the evidence they considered.

“I think it's very thorough,” Sherrill said. She pointed to what she described as multiple ethics trainings, multiple ethics violations and substantiated claims of sexual harassment. Sherrill also said Caldwell had been involved in the investigation process and that the report included statements from him.

Sherrill announced the conclusion and findings of the independent investigation late Thursday. She said the violations showed a pattern of behavior that fell short of her administration’s standards despite warnings and training, calling the substantiated finding of sexual harassment “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 in a statement. “The Lieutenant Governor’s resignation is necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents," she added.

On Friday, when asked whether she felt betrayed by Caldwell's conduct, Sherrill said she had spoken with him the previous day and exchanged text messages with him during the resignation process.

She said the administration had a thorough vetting process when hiring officials but it was the behavior after Caldwell took office that had raised concerns that ultimately led to the independent investigation.

Sherill was also questioned over whether Caldwell had expressed remorse. The governor said she believed Caldwell felt it was important to step down because he cared about the administration's agenda and wanted its work to continue.

“He chose to resign because of that,” Sherrill said.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins