Assemblyman Alex Sauickie (R-Jackson) is calling for Gov. Mikie Sherrill to resign over her handling of the Dale Caldwell scandal, but he was careful about the order of departures: Caldwell should go first.
Sauickie’s call came hours after Sherrill gave Caldwell until Friday to resign following an outside investigation that substantiated sexual harassment and ethics violations against the lieutenant governor.
“Governor Sherrill promised New Jersey transparency and accountability. The Caldwell report shows a complete lack of both,” Sauickie said.
Sauickie argued that Sherrill bears responsibility for allowing Caldwell to remain in office — and serve as acting governor when she left the state — while the investigation was underway. The Sherrill administration retained former Attorney General Christopher Porrino and Lowenstein Sandler to investigate Caldwell on May 21, more than three months before the probe became public.
“Senior officials raised concerns about her handpicked lieutenant governor’s conduct and warned him repeatedly,” Sauickie said. “He remained in office and even served as acting governor while under investigation.”
But Sauickie made clear that Caldwell’s departure should precede Sherrill’s, avoiding a scenario in which the lieutenant governor would succeed her as governor.
His demand went beyond the Caldwell investigation, with Sauickie also criticizing Sherrill over the state budget, affordability, the Delaney Hall controversy and problems involving voter registrations. He also accused the governor of spending too much time outside New Jersey promoting herself nationally.
“In the private sector, a CEO with this track record would be fired,” Sauickie said. “Governor Sherrill should resign.”
Caldwell has disputed the report’s findings through his attorney, Thomas Calcagni.