NEW JERSEY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CALDWELL RESIGNS AFTER HARASSMENT REPORT

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell resigned on Friday, days after an independent investigation found credible evidence he violated state ethics rules and engaged in conduct that constituted sexual harassment. Governor Mikie Sherrill announced the resignation at a press conference in Trenton, saying Caldwell had submitted it to her earlier that day. Sherrill had called on Caldwell to step down on Thursday, after the release of the inquiry's findings, though as an independently elected official the governor lacked direct authority to remove him. She said she would appoint the state's acting comptroller, Shirley Emehelu, as acting lieutenant governor.

The investigation was led by the law firm of Christopher Porrino, a former New Jersey attorney general, and produced a 61-page report. It found credible evidence that Caldwell made unwanted romantic advances toward a staff member's friend, telling the employee afterwards that "you young women are looking for young sperm." The report also said Caldwell tried to secure a job promotion for a state worker he was romantically involved with, and gave tickets to personal guests for functions including the opera without reimbursing the state as ethics guidelines require. Sherrill had selected Caldwell, a Methodist pastor and former president of Centenary University, as her running mate last year, and the pair took office in January. An anonymous complaint about his conduct toward women emerged about four months into the term.

Caldwell disputed the findings. In a written response appended to the report, he suggested his personal life had faced greater scrutiny because he is a single Black man. His lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, said Caldwell's team would "continue to forcefully challenge the report" and was "fully exploring all legal remedies." Sherrill said at the press conference that "we can no longer tolerate the culture of silence, sweeping things under the rug or kicking cans down the road." The New Jersey Globe first reported the resignation.