Assemblywoman Brennan calls for a thorough, independent investigation of the Caldwell allegations

Katie BrennanDemocratic Assemblywoman (D-32), in a press statement

Mixed or conditional

In a statement on September 8, 2026, before the specific allegations were made public, Democratic Assemblywoman Katie Brennan said the reported allegations "deserve a thorough and independent investigation" and that anyone who uses the power of public office to mistreat others "has no business holding it." The statement does not say whether Caldwell should resign.

“These are serious allegations that deserve a thorough and independent investigation. Anyone who uses the power of public office to mistreat the people around them has no business holding it.”

Official statement

Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Statement from Assemblywoman Katie Brennan on Investigation into Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell · InsiderNJFull statement, published September 8, 2026

Reporting

Open source (opens in a new tab)Brennan calls for independent investigation into Caldwell, plans survivor-protection legislation · New Jersey GlobeArticle published September 8, 2026

Case updates

Caldwell resigned but says he will keep disputing the report

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Editorial composite of Dale Caldwell beside the cover of the September 23, 2026, investigation report concerning him.
Credit: Office of the Governor-Elect / Tim Larsen; Lowenstein Sandler LLP; composite by The Dispute Index

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.

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Source and context

Official statement

Statement from Assemblywoman Katie Brennan on Investigation into Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell (opens in a new tab) · InsiderNJFull statement, published September 8, 2026

About this source

Press statement from a Democratic member of the General Assembly responding to the reported internal investigation and announcing legislation on workplace harassment protections.

Reporting

Brennan calls for independent investigation into Caldwell, plans survivor-protection legislation (opens in a new tab) · New Jersey GlobeArticle published September 8, 2026

About this source

New Jersey Globe's report of Assemblywoman Brennan's statement.

Before the quotation

The Governor had issued her first, unnamed statement the same day. Brennan's statement announced that she would introduce legislation to strengthen workplace harassment protections and give survivors a clear way to report misconduct in government or on a campaign.

After the quotation

The statement also says Gov. Sherrill moved quickly and that Brennan was glad she did.

How this statement is classified

Mixed or conditional

The label describes this statement's response within the context above.

Why this label?

Relative to whether Caldwell should resign after the findings, Brennan states a general principle that applies only if the allegations are borne out and calls for an investigation first. Because her position depends on that unresolved condition, mixed or conditional fits better than condemns.

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Cite this record

Publisher
The Dispute Index
Title
Assemblywoman Brennan calls for a thorough, independent investigation of the Caldwell allegations
First published
Last updated
Permalink
https://disputeindex.com/events/2403-in-a-statement-on-september-8-2026-before

Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.

The Dispute Index. "Assemblywoman Brennan calls for a thorough, independent investigation of the Caldwell allegations". First published: 2026-09-25. Last updated: 2026-09-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/2403-in-a-statement-on-september-8-2026-before