Governor Sherrill Calls for Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell’s Resignation After Independent Investigation
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By Adam Rizvi | Editor, The India Observer (TIO): TRENTON, NJ — Governor Mikie Sherrill on Thursday called for Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell to resign after releasing the findings of an independent investigation into allegations involving workplace conduct and ethics.
Sherrill said Caldwell had until Friday, September 25, to resign.
The Governor’s Office said the investigation found that Caldwell engaged in “serious, repeated violations of state policy” and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office. Sherrill said the findings included a substantiated finding of sexual harassment as well as violations of state ethics rules.
The 61-page investigation was conducted by Lowenstein Sandler LLP after the Governor’s Office Chief Ethics Officer received an anonymous complaint dated May 6, 2026, which was received on May 14. Caldwell was formally notified of the investigation on May 22.
While Governor Sherrill’s public statement referred only to a “respected former state Attorney General,” the investigation report identifies Christopher S. Porrino and Shontae D. Gray of Lowenstein Sandler as the attorneys who conducted the investigation.
Porrino served as New Jersey Attorney General under former Governor Chris Christie. Public records reported by the New Jersey Globe show that the Sherrill administration retained Porrino and Lowenstein Sandler on May 21 to conduct the investigation.
The report says investigators interviewed numerous witnesses, including Caldwell, and reviewed documents and other materials. The investigators applied a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard in determining whether allegations were substantiated.
According to the report, investigators substantiated one workplace-policy violation and two state ethics violations.
The workplace finding concerned an interaction involving a female staffer and her friend. The report says Caldwell made a romantic advance toward the friend and, after the advance was rebuffed, made a sexual comment to the staffer. Investigators concluded that the conduct constituted sexual harassment and was derogatory or demeaning in reference to the staffer’s sex. Caldwell denied making the comment, but the investigators said they did not find his denial credible.
The investigation also found that Caldwell brought personal guests to ticketed events without the required advance ethics clearance and without payment or reimbursement. The report states that this conduct continued after Caldwell had received ethics guidance and training.
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The third finding involved a state employee with whom investigators determined Caldwell had a romantic relationship. The report says Caldwell made multiple efforts to secure a promotion for the employee, including communications through his state email account, without disclosing the romantic relationship. Investigators concluded that this violated provisions of the state’s Uniform Ethics Code and the Governor’s Code of Conduct.
Caldwell has denied wrongdoing.
Following release of the report, his attorney, Thomas Calcagni, disputed all three findings and argued that the investigation did not give Caldwell a meaningful opportunity to respond to every allegation or identify witnesses with potentially relevant firsthand information.
Also Read: Mikie Sherrill Names Dr. Dale Caldwell as Lieutenant Governor Running Mate
That response is important to include because the investigation’s findings are administrative findings under the applicable state workplace and ethics standards; they are not a criminal conviction.
In announcing the findings, Sherrill said her administration holds public officials to high ethical standards.
“I hold everyone in my Administration to the highest ethical standard,” Sherrill said, adding that officials have a duty to follow state ethics and harassment policies and the administration’s Code of Conduct.
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Sherrill also said the investigation was initiated by the Chief Ethics Officer and that the evidence was examined through an independent process.
“The investigation fully examined the evidence, followed the facts, and protected everyone’s privacy,” the Governor said.
She concluded that Caldwell’s resignation was necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents.
The release of the investigation moves the Caldwell matter from an undisclosed personnel investigation into a public dispute over the findings and Caldwell’s future in state government.
Caldwell is not only New Jersey’s lieutenant governor but also serves as secretary of state. The lieutenant governor is an elected constitutional office, making the question of Caldwell’s continued service more consequential than an ordinary personnel matter.
For The India Observer, the central facts are now documented in the Governor’s statement and the underlying investigation: the investigation has been completed, three violations were substantiated under the standards applied by investigators, Sherrill has called for Caldwell’s resignation, and Caldwell’s legal team disputes the findings and the investigative process.
TIO will continue to follow developments, including Caldwell’s response and what happens if he does not resign by the Governor’s deadline.
TIO EDITORIAL NOTE
“That response is important to include because the investigation’s findings are administrative findings under the applicable state workplace and ethics standards; they are not a criminal conviction.”
That is the kind of distinction that supports “Fearless Journalism! Facts Matter.” positioning. We report what the investigators found, but we don’t turn an investigative finding into a criminal verdict.
Support independent journalism by sharing this article, commenting on the issue, and subscribing for future coverage.Have a story, event, or issue to report?Email your press release or tip to TheIndiaObserver@gmail.com— TIO covers news that matters. @AdamRizviTIO
Source: Governor’s Office / Lowenstein Sandler investigation report / public reporting cited above.
