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Caldwell Resigns as NJ Lt Gov Amid Sexual Harassment Probe
Confirmed
In Short: Former New Jersey Lt Gov Dale Caldwell resigned after an ethics report found he violated state policy and engaged in sexual harassment.
Former New Jersey Lt Gov Dale Caldwell resigned Friday after an ethics report found he violated state policy and engaged in sexual harassment.
Caldwell said he resigned to avoid any 'distraction' from the Sherrill administration and to focus on his history as a university president and his work at Deloitte consulting firm.
Sherrill said she was committed to changing what she called a longstanding problem in state government with people turning a blind eye to sexual harassment.
The report also found Caldwell's denial of making the inappropriate remark was not credible, and that the claims of sexual harassment were 'substantiated.
What this adds
The substantiated finding of sexual harassment is extremely troubling.
The investigation did not find evidence that Caldwell engaged in sexual activity, but his conduct created a hostile work environment.
Background
Dale Caldwell resigned as New Jersey's lieutenant governor after an ethics report found he violated state policy and engaged in sexual harassment.
What's confirmed
- Gov. Dale Caldwell speaks to a reporter outside his home after his resignation amid an ethics investigation into sexual harassment and official misconduct allegations. (Fox News Digital) "If I'm going to impede anybody else's ability to be successful, then I can move on to something else," Caldwell added, citing his history as a university president and working at the Deloitte consulting firm.
What's still developing
- Gov. Dale Caldwell breaks his silence after his resignation, calling the state's misconduct report ‘ridiculous’ and clarifying he only resigned to avoid distractions (Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP for Fox News Digital).
- According to the probe into Caldwell's behavior, conducted by an independent law firm hired by the state, Caldwell violated ethics rules after telling a female staffer that "you young women are looking for young sperm" after she told him her younger friend was not interested in a romantic relationship with him.
- Mikie Sherrill, while directly disputing the findings of a sexual harassment and ethics probe that forced him from office.
- The 61-page report described repeated ethics violations, including a "substantiated" finding of sexual harassment and repeated improper efforts to secure a state job promotion for a woman with whom he was romantically involved.
- Speaking on camera for the first time since his resignation to a reporter outside his home, Caldwell slammed the state's investigative report as "specious," "ridiculous" and "poorly done," adding he resigned to keep any "distraction" away from the Sherrill administration.
- Other findings from the probe included violations of the code of conduct and ethics around bringing guests to ticketed events without reimbursement and seeking a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.
- (AP) — New Jersey's Democratic lieutenant governor resigned Friday after the governor demanded he step down over accusations of inappropriate behavior with women and ethics lapses.
- Gov. Dale Caldwell (D-NJ) handed in his resignation letter on Friday, after Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) called for him to step down following an investigation into his alleged inappropriate sexual misconduct.
- Caldwell, Sherrill’s running mate in the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election, resigned after an ethics report alleging he “engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office” was made public.
- At the time, the university was being sued as part of athletics-department scandals involving sexual harassment and hazing.
- According to the complaint filed by Wakode's father, Ravindra Chakradhar Wankhade, his son had been subjected to severe mental harassment and casteist remarks for around three months.
- It also appealed against speculation while the probe is underway.