TRENTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is asking for the resignation of her Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell after an independent investigation found Caldwell sexually harassed women on the job.
In a statement released Thursday night, Sherrill said it was “necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents” that Caldwell resign from his position.
“I hold everyone in my Administration to the highest ethical standard. We all have a duty to follow our state ethics and harassment policy and our Code of Conduct,” Sherrill continued. “Anyone who violates these will be held accountable.”
Sherrill’s call for Caldwell to step down came at the same time a 61-page report was released, detailing the findings of an independent investigation into Caldwell’s alleged sexual harassment of women while on the job.
The inquiry was launched in May after Sherill’s Office received an anonymous letter accusing Caldwell of the inappropriate behavior. Caldwell denied the allegations at the time.
The report found that Caldwell had twice sought to get his girlfriend promoted to a state job, made sexually charged comments towards a female staffer, and ignored warnings to change his behavior.
Sherrill said Caldwell “engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office.”
She called the substantiated claims of sexual harassment in the report “extremely troubling.”
Before the release of the report Thursday night, Sherrill had not publicly addressed the scandal growing around the lieutenant governor.
In New Jersey, the governor can’t remove the lieutenant governor from office, but the New Jersey State Assembly can vote to impeach the lieutenant governor with a majority.
It would then go to the State Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required to convict and remove the lieutenant governor from office.
If the legislature does nothing, voters can force a recall election after Caldwell has served a year in office.
A report released Thursday found Dale Caldwell sexually harassed women on the job.
A report released Thursday found Dale Caldwell sexually harassed women on the job.
