Caldwell hunkers down as N.J. awaits investigation

As New Jersey waits for the results of an internal investigation into Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell, the state’s second-highest-ranking elected official has hired a lawyer and is preparing to defend himself against allegations not yet fully made public.

Caldwell has retained Thomas Calcagni, a former federal and state prosecutor, as his personal attorney, the New Jersey Globe has learned. Former Attorney General Peter Harvey is also advising Caldwell.

The moves come as former Attorney General Christopher Porrino and attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler continue an investigation commissioned by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.  Porrino’s team has spent months interviewing witnesses as part of the inquiry.

When Caldwell responded to a letter from the state ethics officer and then sat for interviews with Lowenstein, he was not represented by counsel.

Caldwell has had no official public schedule and has held no media availability since news of the investigation broke on the Friday before Labor Day.  But Caldwell has continued to do his own thing: he was in Washington last week attending events surrounding the Congressional Black Caucus.

Caldwell had also been scheduled to receive an honorary degree Saturday at Thomas Edison State University’s commencement ceremony, but the university is now holding the degree in abeyance until the investigation of the lieutenant governor is completed, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.

Caldwell has denied wrongdoing.

The inquiry has also effectively grounded Sherrill.

The governor has not accepted invitations for out-of-state travel for now, avoiding circumstances that would require Caldwell to serve as acting governor while the investigation remains unresolved.

Sherrill has also significantly curtailed her own availability to the media, taking questions from reporters only twice this month.