By Luke Hunter
Correspondent
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell offered his resignation to New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Sept. 25.
Caldwell’s resignation comes in the wake of several allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior towards women and other allegations of ethical misjudgement, ABC Action News reports.
Before stepping into the role of lieutenant governor, Caldwell had served as a Methodist pastor and was the president of Centenary University.
Earlier this year, Gov. Sherrill initiated an investigation into the conduct of Caldwell after an anonymous letter accused him of sexual and ethical misconduct, according to The Guardian.
The launch of this investigation happened only five months into the Sherrill-Caldwell administration. Investigators walked away concluding that aspects of the allegations were credible, according to the article.
Caldwell made several sexual comments to female staffers. In one instance, after the friend of a female employee rejected the advances of Caldwell, he launched into a derogatory rant directed at women. Caldwell, after being made aware he was placed under investigation, further went on to lobby for a promotion for his girlfriend, a fellow state employee.
Caldwell denied the allegations, originally showing zero sign that he would resign from his office. Contained within the misconduct report was a letter saying, “Caldwell said he suspected his relationships with women were being subjected to extra scrutiny because he was a single Black man,” ABC reports.
Following the release of the investigation into Caldwell’s misconduct, several New Jersey politicians put pressure on Gov. Sherrill to call for Caldwell’s resignation, though New Jersey state law says the governor of the state has no authority to fire the lieutenant governor as the position is independently elected, ABC says; they can be stripped of “nearly all duties and responsibilities.”
Gov. Sherrill called on Caldwell to resign on Sept. 24, after the team of lawyers she hired concluded Caldwell had acted inappropriately towards women.
Caldwell answered the Governor’s call for his resignation on Sept. 25. Caldwell’s lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, in a statement reported by the Guardian, stated “Dr Caldwell’s resignation, submitted to put an end to the targeted campaign to discredit his character, does not in any way diminish our outrage concerning the investigative process and its specious findings.”
Given the magnitude of importance the role of secretary of state plays in the impending midterm elections, Gov. Sherrill announced in a press conference that acting state Comptroller Shirley Emehelu will also serve as acting secretary of state until a replacement lieutenant governor is appointed. Gov. Sherrill has 45 days to find Caldwell’s permanent replacement.
