New Jersey lieutenant governor resigns after release of damaging ethics report

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell has resigned from his position following an investigation that found he violated state ethics and harassment policy, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Friday at a press conference.

“He submitted his resignation to me this afternoon, which I accepted,” Sherrill said. Caldwell was not present at the announcement.

On Thursday, Sherrill urged Caldwell’s resignation after releasing a report summarizing the findings of an independent probe of his behavior, including alleged sexual harassment, conducted by a law firm hired by the state.

In a statement then, Sherrill said that Caldwell, a fellow Democrat, “engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office. I’m calling for his resignation and giving him until tomorrow to do so.”

Caldwell’s resignation, she added, “is necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents.”

Investigators said in the 61-page report that they found credible evidence that Caldwell violated workplace policy “in his conduct by commenting to a female staffer that young women want ‘young sperm.’”

They also found he violated an ethics code and code of conduct “when he brought guests to ticketed events without payment or reimbursement” and “when he sought to obtain a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.”

Lawyers for Caldwell, who has denied the allegations, said in a statement Thursday night that they “strongly disputed the three findings in the investigation,” as its conclusions “go further than the evidence supports.”

“This unnecessarily protracted and one-sided process lacked the requisite due process that should be afforded every citizen of this state,” said Caldwell’s attorney Thomas Calcagni.

Calcagni didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Caldwell was New Jersey’s fourth secretary of state since the role was established by referendum in 2005. He also served as secretary of state, a position through which he oversaw elections.

Sherrill said Friday that the state’s acting comptroller, Shirley Emehelu, would become acting secretary of state with just weeks to go until the midterm elections.

“Shirley is a veteran of the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office,” Sherrill said. “She has the judgment to run these elections and the strength to stand up to Trump’s attacks on voting.”

The lieutenant governor’s duties also include filling in for the governor when she leaves the state. Sherrill said that until a new lieutenant governor is in place, there is “an order of command” for who would step in for her during any absence, beginning with the state Senate president.