New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill gave Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell until Friday to resign after a 61-page independent inquiry found evidence of ethics violations and inappropriate conduct. Caldwell’s attorney disputes the findings; Caldwell had not indicated he would resign.
According to findings reported by CBS New York, Caldwell made a romantic advance toward a female staffer’s friend and allegedly made a sexual comment to the staffer after the advance was rejected; Caldwell denies the comment. Investigators also found he repeatedly sought a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship without disclosing it.
Investigators also found Caldwell brought personal guests to ticketed events without required ethics clearance. His attorney, Thomas Calcagni, said the report relied too heavily on an anonymous complaint and hearsay, and disregarded contrary staff testimony and Caldwell’s account. He said the employee received no promotion, raise or other benefit, and there was no evidence Caldwell ordered a promotion or controlled hiring. Calcagni said Caldwell reimbursed one event and may have misunderstood ethics rules in good faith. Sherrill called the inquiry thorough and impartial; the state’s chief ethics officer initiated it, and a former state attorney general conducted it.
