New Jersey’s two Republican legislative leaders called for swift action Thursday night after an independent investigation substantiated sexual harassment and ethics allegations against Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, with Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco saying the Legislature should intervene if Caldwell refuses to resign and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio demanding that Gov. Mikie Sherrill answer questions about her handling of the controversy.
Sherrill called for Caldwell’s resignation Thursday after a 61-page report concluded that he sexually harassed a female staffer and repeatedly violated state ethics rules. The governor gave Caldwell until Friday to step down.
“It is deeply disappointing that today’s report has confirmed and substantiated the ethics complaints and harassment allegations against Lt. Gov. Caldwell,” said Bucco. “This situation has gone on for far too long, and if he doesn’t agree to resign, the legislature should follow the necessary protocols to resolve this matter once and for all.”
The legislature could potentially impeach Caldwell if he refuses to leave office. Impeachment would require 41 votes in the Assembly, followed by a Senate trial where 27 votes would be needed to convict and remove him.
Bucco also criticized the decision to allow Caldwell to remain in the line of succession while the investigation was underway.
“For Caldwell to serve as acting governor 18 times while these serious allegations were under investigation is disturbing and exactly why I said from the beginning that he should have stepped aside while the facts were being examined,” Bucco said.
Caldwell also serves as Secretary of State and is New Jersey’s chief elections officer, a role Bucco highlighted with the November midterm election less than two months away.
“The offices of Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State carry significant responsibilities, particularly with an election less than two months away,” Bucco said. “Now, more than ever, especially in the wake of the Democrats’ voter fraud scandal that revealed thousands of noncitizens unlawfully registered to vote, New Jerseyans need a Secretary of State who will remain laser-focused on restoring election integrity.”
With Caldwell standing beside her, Sherrill disclosed this summer that roughly 6,600 noncitizens had been erroneously registered through a Motor Vehicle Commission software problem, with fewer than 400 casting ballots in 2024.
Bucco went further, suggesting lawmakers reconsider whether New Jersey needs a lieutenant governor at all.
“Perhaps we should reexamine the position of Lieutenant Governor and the substantial cost that goes along with the office altogether,” he said. “Regardless, this matter must be brought to a conclusion so these critical offices can get back to doing the work New Jerseyans expect them to do.”
DiMaio focused his criticism on Sherrill, accusing the governor of avoiding public scrutiny and questioning why she released the investigation Thursday evening without appearing before reporters.
“Gov. Sherrill cannot handle a crisis in her own administration by disappearing for weeks and then dropping a report after business hours on a Thursday night,” DiMaio said.
Sherrill had largely declined to discuss the Caldwell investigation publicly while it was underway, telling reporters earlier this month that complaints would be taken seriously while also stressing the need for a fair process. Her office did not confirm or deny the probe until today.
“She has taken only a handful of reporters’ questions since this story broke over Labor Day weekend,” DiMaio said. “Now that the investigation is complete, she owes the public answers in real time. What did she know about the warnings to Caldwell, when did she know it, and why was he allowed to remain in office while this dragged on?”
DiMaio called on Sherrill to face reporters Friday.
“The governor should have stood before the press tonight and answered every question,” he said. “Instead, she released a statement and left everyone else to sort through the wreckage. That is unacceptable. She needs to hold a full press conference tomorrow.”
The New Jersey Globe first reported the Caldwell investigation on September 4. Former Attorney General Christopher Porrino and the Lowenstein law firm had been retained by the Sherrill administration on May 21 to conduct the inquiry, more than three months before its existence became public.
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