TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's Democratic lieutenant governor resigned on Friday following a demand from Governor Mikie Sherrill amid accusations of inappropriate behavior and ethics violations. Sherrill had given Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell until Friday to resign due to a scandal that could impact her administration.
At a news conference, Sherrill emphasized her commitment to addressing a culture of sexual harassment in state government, stating, "There has been a culture in Trenton, probably since the birth of our nation, to sweep this under the rug. That is not the kind of government I'm running."
Caldwell, who also serves as acting governor in Sherrill's absence and oversees elections as New Jersey's secretary of state, faced scrutiny from Republicans regarding the investigation into his conduct. Sherrill appointed Caldwell, a Methodist pastor and former president of Centenary University, as her running mate last year. Within four months of taking office, he became the subject of an anonymous complaint regarding his behavior with women.
Sherrill called for his resignation after a law firm she hired concluded that Caldwell had behaved inappropriately. Caldwell has disputed the allegations and initially showed reluctance to resign. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment following the announcement of his resignation.
In New Jersey, the governor cannot fire the lieutenant governor, as the position is independently elected. However, the Legislature can impeach and remove a lieutenant governor from office. The governor can also strip the lieutenant governor of most duties.
Sherrill stated that Caldwell chose to resign out of concern for their agenda and the state's challenges, but she did not confirm whether he expressed remorse. The law firm's report indicated that Caldwell committed several violations of state policy, including making an inappropriate advance toward a staff member's friend and attempting to secure a promotion for a state employee he was dating.
Caldwell's lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, stated that his client "categorically denies" making inappropriate comments but acknowledged that Caldwell had recommended the woman for a promotion. Caldwell denied other allegations, including distributing his business cards to women for inappropriate reasons.
Until a new lieutenant governor is appointed, state Senate President Nicholas Scutari will serve as acting governor if Sherrill is unavailable. In New York, a similar situation has unfolded between Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and her estranged Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who withdrew from a primary challenge against her. Hochul is now running for reelection with Adrienne Adams as her nominee for lieutenant governor.