Bucco says the report confirmed the allegations and urges Caldwell to resign or face legislative action
Anthony M. BuccoSenate Republican Leader, in a press statement
In a statement issued after the report was published, Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco said the report "confirmed and substantiated" the ethics complaints and harassment allegations against Caldwell and that, if Caldwell does not agree to resign, the Legislature should follow the necessary protocols to resolve the matter.
Responding to
Lt. Gov. Caldwell's resignation is "necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents" because the investigation substantiated serious, repeated violations of state policy.
“It is deeply disappointing that today’s report has confirmed and substantiated the ethics complaints and harassment allegations against Lt. Gov. Caldwell. 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.”
Official statement
Reporting
Other statements by Anthony M. Bucco in this case
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Where this statement fits
Should Dale Caldwell resign as New Jersey's lieutenant governor after the investigation's findings?
On September 24, 2026, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill released a 61-page report, with exhibits, by the law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP and called on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign by the next day. The firm, engaged by the Governor's Chief Ethics Officer after an anonymous complaint dated May 6, found that Caldwell made a comment to a female staffer that constituted sexual harassment under the state workplace policy, and that he violated state ethics rules by bringing personal guests to ticketed events without payment and by seeking a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship. Caldwell, through his lawyer Thomas Calcagni, disputes all three findings, denies making the comment, and says the process was one-sided and lacked due process; in a May 28 letter he called the complaint's accusations false. Republican leaders called for him to resign or step down before the report was released. The Associated Press reports that the Governor cannot fire a lieutenant governor and that the Legislature can impeach and remove one. The statement issued for Caldwell on September 24 did not say whether he would resign. On September 25, Sherrill announced that Caldwell had resigned, The Philadelphia Inquirer and ABC News report. In a statement on his resignation, Caldwell said it should not be read as an admission of wrongdoing and that he strongly disputes the report; his lawyer said counsel would continue to challenge it.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Press statement from the New Jersey Senate Republican Leader issued after the report was published, reproduced by InsiderNJ.
Reporting
About this source
New Jersey Globe's report on the Republican legislative leaders' reactions to the report, including Senate Republican Leader Bucco's statement and Assembly Republican Leader DiMaio's criticism of the Governor's handling of the matter.
Before the quotation
In early September Bucco had said Caldwell should temporarily step down from his duties, and on September 10 he and the Assembly Republican Leader asked the Democratic legislative leaders for a bipartisan select committee.
After the quotation
The statement says Caldwell served as acting governor 18 times while the allegations were under investigation, says the Secretary of State's office matters with an election less than two months away, and suggests reexamining the position of Lieutenant Governor.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the report's findings and the call for Caldwell's resignation, Bucco treats the findings as confirming the allegations and presses for Caldwell's departure, by resignation or legislative action. That is express criticism of the conduct and support for removal, so condemns applies.
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- People and groups discussed
- Dale Caldwell
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Read the full caseSpadea questions Caldwell's denial after his resignation
“That's odd and makes me question whether the conclusions of the investigation were more accurate than the former lieutenant governor is saying.”Read statement
The Inquirer board says the reported conduct warranted Caldwell's departure
The Philadelphia Inquirer
“But Caldwell’s alleged behavior would and should constitute a firing offense in any number of more obscure private-sector jobs.”Read statement
Caldwell calls the investigation's report "specious" and says he is not resigning because of it
“The report, I think, was just specious. There are all sorts of wrong things and mistakes. I'm not resigning because of that ridiculous report. I'm resigning because I don't want to be a distraction to the Mikie Sherrill administration.”Read statement
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- Bucco says the report confirmed the allegations and urges Caldwell to resign or face legislative action
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The Dispute Index. "Bucco says the report confirmed the allegations and urges Caldwell to resign or face legislative action". First published: 2026-09-25. Last updated: 2026-09-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/2398-in-a-statement-issued-after-the-report-was