Caldwell's counsel disputes all three findings and the investigation's process
Thomas CalcagniAttorney for Lt. Gov. Caldwell, in a written statement
In a written statement on September 24, 2026, Caldwell's attorney, Thomas Calcagni, said the process was "one-sided" and lacked due process, said Caldwell "categorically denies" making the car-ride comment, and distinguished a "good-faith error" in reading the ethics rules from deliberately using public office for personal benefit.
Responding to
The credible evidence substantiates that Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell violated the state workplace policy by commenting to a female staffer that young women want "young sperm," conduct the report finds constituted sexual harassment, and violated the Uniform Ethics Code and the Governor's Code of Conduct by bringing personal guests to ticketed events without payment or reimbursement and by seeking a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.
“This unnecessarily protracted and one-sided process lacked the requisite due process that should be afforded every citizen of this state … The Lieutenant Governor was not provided a meaningful opportunity to address each of these anonymous allegations or offer readily identifiable witnesses who possessed more pertinent, first-hand knowledge of the events in question. … The most serious finding involves an allegation that Dr. Caldwell made an inappropriate comment during a car ride. Dr. Caldwell categorically denies making that statement. … There is a meaningful difference between making a good-faith error when analyzing the regulations and deliberately using public office for personal benefit. … The Lieutenant Governor participated in the investigative process faithfully to the limited extent permitted, expecting a genuine truth-seeking inquiry. Unfortunately, the report twists seemingly benign phrases, such as ‘executive presence,’ to imply improper motive; relies heavily and unduly on the anonymous complainant’s perceptions, characterizations, and multi-layered hearsay; and disregards the testimony of staffers who did not share those views, as well as the Lieutenant Governor’s own account.”
Official statement
Reporting
Reporting
Reporting
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
Written statement issued for the Lieutenant Governor by his attorney after the report was released. It disputes each of the three findings and the fairness of the process. It does not say whether he would resign; he resigned the next day, September 25, 2026.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
New Jersey Globe's same-night report on the statement issued by Caldwell's attorney, quoting it at length and noting that it does not address the Governor's resignation demand.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Politico's same-night report on the Governor's demand and the Lieutenant Governor's response through counsel. It notes that only the Legislature can remove him, by impeachment.
Reporting
About this source
Associated Press coverage, syndicated by Newsday, of the Governor's call for resignation and the response of Caldwell's lawyer. It notes the Governor cannot remove the Lieutenant Governor, who can be impeached and removed by the Legislature.
Before the quotation
The statement was issued the evening the Governor released the report and called for Caldwell's resignation. It was the only response on Caldwell's behalf located that evening.
After the quotation
The statement also says the report relies on the anonymous complainant's perceptions and hearsay and disregards testimony from staffers who did not share those views. As reported by Politico, it did not address whether Caldwell would resign.
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, counsel says Caldwell explicitly denies the most serious finding and disputes the process and the other two findings. The explicit denial makes Denies the closest label. On the ethics findings, counsel contests intent and characterization rather than the underlying facts, which alone would be a challenge to the characterization.
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- People and groups discussed
- Lowenstein Sandler LLP
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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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The Dispute Index. "Caldwell's counsel disputes all three findings and the investigation's process". First published: 2026-09-25. Last updated: 2026-09-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/2399-in-a-written-statement-on-september-24-2026