Caldwell's May 28 letter denies the complaint's accusations
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State, in a written response to the Chief Ethics Officer
“The accusations contained in this complaint are inaccurate, misleading, and completely false. For that reason, I fully welcome a fair, objective, and professional review of these allegations by the attorneys and investigators assigned to this matter because I am confident that the facts will fully clear my name. First, I have never asked anyone out on a date, “hit on,” or pursued anyone romantically while conducting official business as Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State. … The suggestion that these professional and family relationships somehow constitute unethical behavior is completely inaccurate and without merit.”
Source and context
Original text
About this source
The Lieutenant Governor's signed three-page written response to the anonymous complaint, dated May 28, 2026, before the investigation's findings. It answers the complaint's allegations about guests at events and about pursuing women, and it was published in full (with names redacted) as an exhibit to the report.
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About this source
The Philadelphia Inquirer's profile quoting the Lieutenant Governor's May 28 letter and interviews with several named supporters. It reports that a friend said Caldwell has told him he will not resign; Caldwell's own public position on resigning had not been stated.
Before the quotation
The Chief Ethics Officer had notified Caldwell on May 22 that a complaint alleging workplace misconduct and ethics violations was under investigation, and had told him that the existence of an investigation does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing.
After the quotation
Caldwell also wrote that he would cooperate fully with any review process, that the complaint appeared to be driven by misinformation, false assumptions and what seemed to be a personal vendetta, and that as the first single Black man to serve at this level in government he suspected there would be other false accusations.
How this statement is classified
Responding to: The accusations in the anonymous complaint, including that he pursued women romantically while conducting official business and that his guests at events raised ethical concerns, are "inaccurate, misleading, and completely false."
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the allegations the investigation later addressed, Caldwell explicitly says the accusations are false, that he did not pursue anyone romantically on official business, and that the guests' attendance was not unethical. That is an explicit denial of the alleged conduct. The letter predates the report and does not respond to its specific findings.
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Should Dale Caldwell resign as New Jersey's lieutenant governor after the investigation's findings?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“The investigation found that the Lieutenant Governor engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office. I’m calling for his resignation and giving him until tomorrow to do so. … These violations substantiated in the investigation reflect a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this Administration. The ethical lapses persisted despite multiple warnings and trainings. The substantiated finding of sexual harassment is extremely troubling. … As a former federal prosecutor, I’m committed to ensuring everyone is treated fairly. This investigation was thorough and impartial. It was initiated by the Chief Ethics Officer and conducted by a respected former state Attorney General. … The Lieutenant Governor’s resignation is necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents.”Read statement
“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.”Read statement
“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.”Read statement