Bucco, DiMaio call for legislative probe of Caldwell allegations

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio are calling for a bipartisan legislative investigation into allegations involving Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell and the Sherrill administration’s handling of the matter.

In a letter sent Thursday to Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, the Republican leaders asked for a bicameral select committee with equal Democratic and Republican representation.

The committee would investigate both the allegations against Caldwell and what Bucco and DiMaio described as the administration’s “lack of transparency” regarding an internal investigation.

“Given the seriousness of the allegations and the questions surrounding the administration’s response, this is an opportunity for the Legislature, Democrats and Republicans alike, to come together in exercising its constitutional oversight responsibilities,” they said.

The allegations, which concern inappropriate behavior toward women and possible ethics violations, including purported offers of state jobs, were first reported by the press.  The Sherrill administration has retained former Attorney General Christopher Porrino to investigate.

Bucco and DiMaio said the Legislature should determine when Gov. Mikie Sherrill and administration officials first learned of the allegations, what steps they took, who made those decisions, and why they hired outside counsel.

They also asked whether relevant records and communications were preserved, whether applicable ethics and personnel requirements were followed, and whether policy changes are needed for future allegations involving senior officials.

“The important task of finding answers to these questions should not be left solely to investigators who report to the very administration whose handling of this matter is in question,” the two Republicans wrote. “The Governor cannot be the sole judge of whether her own administration responded appropriately to serious allegations involving one of its highest-ranking officials.”

The proposed committee would have full subpoena authority over testimony, documents, communications, electronic records, and investigative materials.  Bucco and DiMaio also proposed bipartisan co-chairs appointed by the legislative presiding officers and minority leaders.

The Republican leaders said the inquiry should not be viewed through a partisan lens, arguing that an equal bipartisan panel would provide the independence and credibility necessary for a fair examination.

“Regardless of party, the people of New Jersey deserve to know the facts and to have confidence that their government is willing to hold itself accountable,” said Bucco and DiMaio.

Sean Higgins, a spokesman for Sherrill, sharply criticized Bucco and DiMaio.

“Governor Sherrill answers to the people of New Jersey — not Trenton Republicans who are silent on the corruption and incompetence of Donald Trump,” said Higgins.  “They don’t have a shred of credibility to speak on transparency or accountability until they stand up to a president who has weaponized the federal government to deny New Jersey FEMA funding, and pocketed billions in personal profit while raising costs on everyone else.”

Sherrill declined Wednesday to discuss the specifics of the investigation.  She said only that complaints involving members of her administration are taken seriously and that the rights of those accused must be protected.

Caldwell is now being advised by power lawyer Peter Harvey, a former state attorney general.

Democratic lawmakers approved a legislative probe of allegations of sexual assault by a Murphy administration official in 2018 after another official said she was raped during Phil Murphy’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign.