New Jersey’s two Democratic U.S. senators are calling on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign, adding significant pressure on Caldwell after Gov. Mikie Sherrill gave him until today to step down following an investigation that substantiated allegations of sexual harassment and ethics violations.
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said Sherrill was right to seek Caldwell’s resignation.
“Governor Sherrill is absolutely right the conduct described in the investigative report is totally unacceptable,” Booker said. “For the sake of our state Lt. Governor Caldwell should resign.”
U.S. Sen. Andy Kim also called for Caldwell’s immediate departure.
“New Jerseyans deserve to have public servants who work to earn and keep their trust, not undermine it,” Kim said. “The findings of the independent report are unacceptable. The Lt. Governor should resign immediately.”
Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-Glen Ridge) stopped short of explicitly calling for Caldwell to resign, but sharply criticized his conduct and expressed support for the women who came forward.
“Lieutenant Governor Caldwell’s conduct is deeply disappointing and falls far short of the standard we should expect from anyone entrusted with public office,” Mejia said. “I stand with the victims who had the courage to come forward, and they deserve to be heard, supported, and protected.”
The comments came as Republican lawmakers intensified their criticism of both Caldwell and Sherrill, with some demanding legislative hearings into how the administration handled the allegations.
Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn (R-Holmdel) said Sherrill has the right to demand Caldwell’s resignation but argued that his departure should not end the matter.
“The Governor has every right to demand the resignation of someone in her Administration whom she no longer trusts,” Flynn said. “But her demand … for the lieutenant governor’s resignation cannot be the end of the inquiry into what has occurred during the first few months of this Administration.”
Flynn called for bipartisan public hearings, citing differences between the investigative report and Caldwell’s response to it.
“The disclosure of an internal investigation report commissioned by the governor cannot serve as a substitute for independent legislative oversight, especially when the report and lieutenant governor Caldwell’s response offer fundamentally different accounts,” she said.
Flynn said hearings should take place regardless of whether Caldwell resigns.
“Whether or not the Lieutenant Governor resigns, allegations of sexual harassment and ethical violations at the highest levels of state government require bipartisan public hearings to investigate those allegations,” Flynn said. “Such conduct, if proven, has no place in public service, and the public should not be asked to accept either side’s account without independent scrutiny.”
Flynn said that public hearings would “provide the transparency and accountability this moment demands.”
“When government handles matters like this behind closed doors, it only serves to erode the public’s trust,” she said.
State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver) focused his criticism on Sherrill’s campaign and administration, alleging that they failed to act on earlier warnings about Caldwell.
“Governor Sherrill’s handpicked LG, who she was apparently warned about during the campaign by a woman at Centenary College who he worked with and who her campaign ghosted, blocked and doxed, is now out,” O’Scanlon said. “This is just getting started.”
He called on the campaign aide, Leslie Bockel, to be fired. Bockel now works as Caldwell’s speechwriter.
“We should know who they are and what their role was,” said O’Scanlon. “This needs to happen.”
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-Franklin) tied the controversy to Sherrill’s out-of-state political travel and periods when Caldwell served as acting governor.
“Governor Sherrill can dream about the White House on her own time,” Fantasia said. “But traipsing around the country campaigning for Democrats while Dale Caldwell repeatedly took charge of New Jersey?”
Fantasia cited findings in the investigation, including an episode in which Caldwell asked about a staffer’s younger friend and later made a comment about “young sperm,” as well as findings involving personal guests at ticketed events and his efforts to obtain a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.
“Caldwell’s staff was trying to manage his conduct toward women while Sherrill was ‘on tour,’” Fantasia said.
Sherrill called for Caldwell’s resignation Thursday after the independent investigation concluded that he had violated state policies. An attorney representing Caldwell slammed the investigation process.