Governor’s Office Report Substantiates Sexual Harassment and Ethics Violations by Dale Caldwell; Sherrill Calls for Resignation

UPDATE, SEP 25, 2026, 5 P.M.: Dale Caldwell has resigned.

An independent investigation commissioned by the Governor’s Office substantiated sexual harassment and two ethics violations involving Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, prompting Governor Mikie Sherrill to call for his resignation. Investigators found that Caldwell told a staffer that “you young women are looking for young sperm,” a remark he denied making, and concluded that the comment violated state workplace policy.

As first reported by the New Jersey Globe, the investigation was underway before the final report became public, with few details publicly disclosed. The September 23, 2026, report provides the evidence supporting the three findings, including witness accounts, documents and Caldwell’s responses.

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How the investigation reached its findings

The Governor’s chief ethics officer retained Lowenstein Sandler LLP after receiving an anonymous complaint dated May 6, 2026, on May 14. Caldwell received formal notice on May 22.

Investigators interviewed Caldwell and numerous witnesses, reviewed documents and applied a two-step standard: whether credible evidence showed that conduct more likely than not occurred, and whether that conduct violated state law or policy. A finding was “substantiated” only if it met both tests.¹

The complaint raised concerns about Caldwell’s interactions with women at official events and unpaid guests at ticketed events. Investigators also examined information developed during witness interviews, including Caldwell’s efforts to secure a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.

Investigators substantiated sexual harassment

The report substantiated a sexual harassment violation of state workplace policy based on a staffer’s account of a conversation during official travel. Investigators found that Caldwell asked whether the staffer’s friend was single and, after being told she was not interested in a relationship with him, said that “you young women are looking for young sperm.” Caldwell denied making the remark, including as a joke.

Investigators credited the staffer because her account was specific and consistent across two interviews, she took a photograph whose metadata documented the date, time and location, and she described the episode to another staffer soon afterward. The photograph did not record the conversation or independently establish what was said. Caldwell acknowledged asking whether the friend was single, describing her as attractive and requesting her phone number, but denied asking her on a date.

A State Police trooper driving the vehicle said he did not hear the conversation. He told investigators he was focused on driving, navigation and radio traffic. Investigators concluded that his account did not discredit the staffer’s account. They also found that the remark caused her to distance herself from Caldwell and avoid traveling with him when possible.²

State policy prohibits sexual conduct that interferes with an employee’s work or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment, as well as derogatory or demeaning references based on sex. Investigators concluded that the remark met those standards even without proof that Caldwell intended to harass the staffer.

The report also cited admitted or corroborated comments about finding a “first lady,” having “executive presence” and having female staffers “one on each arm” as supporting the credibility of the staffer’s account. It did not substantiate those comments as separate violations. Witness accounts differed: some described comments they considered uncomfortable or appearance-related, while others said they had not seen Caldwell proposition women or behave inappropriately at events.

Unpaid guest admissions led to an ethics finding

Lowenstein identified seven ticketed events between February 19 and May 23 at which Caldwell reportedly appeared with one or more guests admitted without payment. Investigators identified another event involving an unpaid guest but could not establish its date. Reported ticket prices, where known, ranged from $65 to $300.

The report said Caldwell continued bringing unpaid guests after ethics training and staff warnings, including at events on May 2 and May 23. After the investigation began, he reimbursed $175 for one guest’s attendance at the May 2 event at Morven Museum & Garden.³

The applicable rules allow waived admission for the lieutenant governor under limited circumstances connected to official duties. But the report said waived admission for an official’s family member, friend or date is an impermissible benefit to the official. The finding concerned Caldwell’s acceptance of free admission for personal guests, not an event organizer’s offer.

Caldwell told investigators that the rules were “gray” and offered family or professional explanations for some guests. His counsel later characterized the conduct as a good-faith regulatory error rather than deliberate misuse of office.

Promotion requests created a separate conflict finding

Investigators found that Caldwell verbally advocated for a state employee’s promotion and followed up by email on May 26, four days after receiving notice of the investigation. He called the employee “my friend,” forwarded her résumé and recommended her for a leadership role without initially disclosing their on-and-off romantic relationship.

The employee was not promoted or transferred and later left state government. Caldwell told investigators that he routinely forwarded résumés and believed an ethics issue would arise only if he demanded that she be hired.

The Uniform Ethics Code bars state officials from participating in an official matter involving a dating partner and from using public office to secure an unwarranted advantage. Investigators concluded that Caldwell’s intervention violated those rules even though it was unsuccessful.⁴

What investigators did not substantiate

The report found no credible evidence confirming the existence or contents of a rumored inappropriate text message and identified no state-policy violation involving Caldwell’s use of his State Police security detail. Neither matter contributed to the three substantiated findings.

Caldwell disputes the report

In a statement issued through counsel after the report’s release, Caldwell disputed all three findings and called the investigation one-sided. Attorney Thomas Calcagni argued that Caldwell lacked a meaningful opportunity to address the allegations and that investigators discounted favorable witnesses and evidence.

Counsel emphasized that the trooper did not hear the vehicle conversation and that the photograph did not establish what was said. The statement also cited Caldwell’s reimbursement, the employee’s failure to receive a promotion or other state benefit, and his assertion that he would have disclosed the relationship or recused himself if advised that the rules required it.⁵

Sherrill calls for Caldwell to resign

Sherrill released the report on September 24 and said its findings reflected repeated violations of state policy. She called for Caldwell to resign by September 25, describing his resignation as necessary and in residents’ best interests.⁶

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Notes

Read the September 23 investigation report and exhibits (PDF), published by the New Jersey Globe.

1. Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Investigation Report Re: Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, September 23, 2026, 1, 4–6.
2. Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Investigation Report, 14–15, 30–32.
3. Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Investigation Report, 19–23, 33–35, exhibit 6.
4. Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Investigation Report, 24–27, 36–38, exhibit 7.
5. Thomas Calcagni, “Statement Regarding Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell,” September 2026, 1–2.
6. Office of Governor Mikie Sherrill, “Governor Sherrill Releases Report on Investigation into Lieutenant Governor Caldwell, Calls for Resignation,” September 24, 2026.