Gov. Mikie Sherrill calls for Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign after independent probe substantiates misconduct

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has called on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign after an independent investigation found he violated state policy repeatedly and committed sexual harassment. The probe was led by former New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino and began in May after the state's chief ethics officer received an anonymous complaint.

The investigation—reported as a 61-page independent review—substantiated multiple ethics violations and at least one finding of sexual harassment. Specific conduct cited in news accounts includes seeking a promotion for a state employee with whom Caldwell had a personal relationship and making an inappropriate comment to a female staffer. The report said ethical lapses continued despite warnings and trainings.

Gov. Sherrill released a statement describing the findings as incompatible with the standards of her administration. She called for Caldwell's resignation and gave him until the next day to step down. Sherrill noted she holds all administration officials to the state's ethics and harassment policies and the administration's Code of Conduct.

Caldwell's attorneys pushed back against the report, calling the investigation "unnecessarily protracted" and "one-sided" and asserting the process lacked requisite due process. They argued the probe relied too heavily on an anonymous complaint and on hearsay, according to their public statement.

Political reactions and possible consequences

• May: The state's chief ethics officer received an anonymous letter raising concerns about Caldwell's conduct. This triggered the independent investigation.
• Investigation led by Christopher Porrino examined allegations and produced a detailed report that became public in late September.
• Following release of the findings, Gov. Sherrill demanded Caldwell resign and set a short deadline.

The findings affect public trust in the administration and raise questions about internal accountability mechanisms, workplace culture, and how the state handles ethics and harassment complaints. The dispute between the investigator's conclusions and Caldwell's defense centers on evidence, process, and standards for internal discipline.

An independent probe led by a former state attorney general concluded the lieutenant governor engaged in repeated ethics violations and sexual harassment. Gov. Sherrill publicly demanded his resignation, while Caldwell's legal team disputed the investigation's fairness and evidence. The coming days will determine whether he steps down and what formal remedies the state pursues.