New Jersey Governor Sherrill Gives Lieutenant Governor Caldwell Resignation Deadline

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill moved on Friday to distance herself from her own lieutenant governor, telling Dale Caldwell to step down by the end of the day after an investigation found he had behaved inappropriately around women.

The governor scheduled an afternoon news conference at the State House in Trenton to address the matter. She first called for Caldwell's resignation on Thursday, shortly after a law firm she commissioned concluded that he had committed what she described as serious and repeated breaches of state policy, continuing even after warnings and training sessions.

Caldwell, who was Sherrill's hand-picked running mate, has rejected the findings and given no indication he intends to leave voluntarily. Under New Jersey's system, a governor cannot dismiss a lieutenant governor, since the position is independently elected. Lawmakers can impeach and remove a lieutenant governor, while a governor may strip the officeholder of specific duties, in effect sidelining them.

A Methodist pastor and former president of Centenary University in Hackettstown, Caldwell also serves as New Jersey's secretary of state, overseeing elections, and acts as governor when Sherrill is absent. He was chosen as her running mate last year, placing him first in line to lead the state if she dies, is removed from office or becomes incapacitated.

The law firm's report, dated Wednesday and made public Thursday, alleged several policy violations. It said Caldwell, 66, made an advance toward a staff member's friend and, after being rebuffed, told the staffer that young women were looking for young sperm. The report also said he sought a promotion for a state employee he was dating and brought personal guests to the opera and other ticketed events without paying, as ethics rules require.

Caldwell denied any misconduct. In a letter included in the report, he said he suspected his relationships with women were being scrutinized more closely because he is a single Black man. His lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, said Caldwell categorically denies making the sperm statement but acknowledged recommending the woman for a promotion, while denying he ordered anyone to promote her. Caldwell also denied other claims, including that he hands out business cards to women for inappropriate reasons. He has served for decades on the New Brunswick Board of Education.

Republican state Senator Kristin Corrado questioned Sherrill's judgment in allowing Caldwell to fill in for her while his conduct was under investigation. New Jersey residents deserve leadership, transparency and answers from their government, she said Friday, adding that so far they have received none. Leaders of the Democrat-led Legislature did not respond to messages Friday morning.

The standoff unfolds weeks before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, and state Republicans have pressed Sherrill on the investigation for weeks. A comparable deadlock played out in neighboring New York over the past year between Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who mounted a bitter primary challenge before withdrawing as the election approached. Hochul is now seeking reelection in November with Adrienne Adams, the former New York City Council speaker, as her replacement lieutenant governor nominee.