New Jersey Governor Calls on Lieutenant Governor to Resign Over Ethics Report

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has called on Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell to step down by Friday, following an independent investigation that concluded he breached the state's ethics and anti-discrimination policies.

The report, produced by a law firm engaged by Caldwell's own office and released on Wednesday, found that he violated workplace discrimination rules. According to the findings, he made an advance toward a staff member's friend and, after being turned down, told the staffer that "you young women are looking for young sperm."

The investigation also determined that Caldwell ran afoul of state ethics rules by seeking a promotion for a state employee with whom he was romantically involved, and by bringing personal guests to ticketed events without paying. The report noted that when a sponsor waives admission for an official's family member, friend, or date, the value of that admission constitutes an impermissible benefit.

Sherrill, a Democrat, said the lieutenant governor's ethical lapses persisted despite repeated warnings and training sessions. She described his resignation as being in the best interest of New Jersey residents, adding that the substantiated violations reflect a pattern of behavior inconsistent with the standards of her administration.

"The investigation found that the Lieutenant Governor engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office," Sherrill said in a statement.

Caldwell's lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, rejected the findings, characterizing the investigation as a one-sided process that denied his client necessary due process. He said Caldwell was not given a meaningful opportunity to respond to each of the anonymous allegations against him.

The demand for resignation marks a rare public rupture between a governor and a lieutenant governor in the state, and puts pressure on Caldwell to decide his next move before the Friday deadline.