NJ lieutenant governor resigns after misconduct report

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell resigned Friday effective immediately, less than 24 hours after Governor Mikie Sherrill publicly called for his resignation. The sudden departure followed the release of a 61-page independent investigation report conducted by a private law firm, which concluded that Caldwell had engaged in serious, repeated ethics violations and sexual harassment. Investigators found evidence that Caldwell made inappropriate romantic advances toward a staffer's friend and subsequently targeted the staffer with a harassing comment after being rejected. The report also revealed he had twice tried to improperly secure a state job promotion for a girlfriend and repeatedly brought unpaid personal guests to ticketed social events. While Caldwell and his legal counsel initially pushed back against the findings as a one-sided character assassination, mounting pressure from Governor Sherrill and both of New Jersey's U.S. senators ultimately led to his resignation just eight months into his term. Gov. Sherrill delivered remarks on Friday addressing the investigation and Caldwell's resignation.