New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has called on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign after an independent investigation substantiated a sexual harassment finding and two violations of state ethics rules.
Sherrill released the investigation on September 24 and gave Caldwell until Friday to resign. The review, conducted by law firm Lowenstein Sandler at the request of the governor’s Chief Ethics Officer, examined allegations involving Caldwell’s workplace conduct and use of his public position.
The investigation began after the Chief Ethics Officer received an anonymous complaint in May. Caldwell received formal notice of the review on May 22, according to the report.
Investigators substantiated a violation of New Jersey’s workplace discrimination policy involving a female staff member. According to the report, Caldwell made a romantic advance toward the staffer’s friend at an official event and later asked whether the woman remained single.
The staffer told investigators that she informed Caldwell her friend wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship with him. The report found that Caldwell responded by referring to the women as successful and ambitious before saying they were looking for young sperm.
Investigators concluded the remark was sexual in nature and constituted harassment under the state’s workplace policy. The staffer said the interaction changed how she dealt with Caldwell at work, leading her to distance herself and avoid travelling with him when possible.
Caldwell disputed making the remark. Investigators said his denial wasn’t credible after reviewing witness accounts and other evidence gathered during the inquiry.
The report also substantiated two separate ethics violations. One involved Caldwell bringing personal guests to ticketed events without payment or reimbursement, despite receiving guidance about restrictions covering free admission for guests.
Investigators found that Caldwell continued the practice after staff members raised concerns and after he received additional ethics training on May 1. The report states that free admission was provided on separate occasions to his daughter, a friend and a romantic partner.
One incident occurred on May 23, the day after Caldwell received formal notice of the investigation, according to the report. Caldwell later reimbursed the cost of one guest’s attendance after learning about the inquiry.
Investigators found a second ethics violation involving Caldwell’s efforts to help a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship secure a promotion in another executive branch department.
During the week of May 18, Caldwell approached a senior official and suggested the employee would suit a supervisory position, the report states. He didn’t disclose their romantic relationship during the discussion.
On May 26, four days after receiving formal notice of the investigation, Caldwell used his state email account to contact another official about the same employee. He forwarded her resume and letter of interest, described her as my friend and wrote that she would be a strong addition to the department’s leadership team.
The official later learned from another staff member that Caldwell and the employee were romantically involved. Caldwell then acknowledged that the two had dated on and off and had recently resumed their relationship, according to the investigation.
The department declined to advance the employee’s candidacy, and she later left state government. Investigators concluded that the outcome didn’t change the ethics issue because state rules prohibit officials from using their positions in matters involving people with whom they have dating relationships.
Caldwell told investigators that he believed forwarding the resume was permissible because he hadn’t demanded that the employee receive the position. The report rejected that interpretation and found that his involvement violated both New Jersey’s Uniform Ethics Code and the administration’s Code of Conduct.
In a May response to investigators, Caldwell denied broader allegations of misconduct and described several claims as false or misleading. He also denied using official business to pursue women and said he expected the investigation to clear him.
Sherrill said the findings showed repeated violations of state policy and called the substantiated harassment finding extremely troubling. She said the conduct continued despite warnings and training, and asked Caldwell to submit his resignation by September 25.
The report was commissioned through the governor’s Chief Ethics Officer and conducted by Lowenstein Sandler. Its investigation concluded that credible evidence supported three findings: a workplace harassment violation involving the sexual remark, an ethics violation involving unpaid guests at ticketed events and an ethics violation involving Caldwell’s efforts to advance the career of a romantic partner.
