New Jersey lieutenant governor resigns after sexual harassment accusation
New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell resigned from his post on Friday following the release of an independent investigation that substantiated claims of sexual harassment and multiple ethics policy violations. Caldwell handed in his resignation letter after Governor Mikie Sherrill publicly demanded he step down by Friday, warning that his conduct violated administrative standards and undermined public trust.
The decision resolves an escalating political crisis within the state capital, removing Caldwell from his dual roles as lieutenant governor and secretary of state weeks before the upcoming midterm elections. According to an official news report published by The Guardian, Sherrill emphasized during a press conference that her administration remains committed to dismantling a long-standing political culture that historically ignored workplace misconduct.
The resignation follows a detailed investigative report prepared by former state Attorney General Christopher Porrino’s law firm, Lowenstein Sandler, which examined an anonymous complaint filed earlier this year. Investigators concluded that Caldwell engaged in a pattern of serious misconduct, including making an unwanted romantic advance toward a staffer’s female friend and subsequently making derogatory comments.
The report also detailed state ethics violations, finding that Caldwell attempted to secure a job promotion for a state employee with whom he was involved in an undisclosed romantic relationship. Furthermore, investigators discovered that Caldwell improperly brought unauthorized personal guests to exclusive, ticketed state events without making required payments.
Caldwell categorically denied the harassment allegations, while his legal team criticized the investigation as a one-sided process that lacked basic due process. His attorneys argued that Caldwell was denied the opportunity to fully confront the claims or present key witnesses, characterizing the findings as character assassination.
Despite his defense, Sherrill moved swiftly to restore stability across state operations, appointing former federal prosecutor Shirley Emehelu as acting secretary of state to oversee the state’s election apparatus through November. Under New Jersey law, Governor Sherrill maintains a 45-day statutory window to appoint a permanent replacement for the lieutenant governor position, which does not require state Senate confirmation.
