Former New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell has defended himself against allegations contained in an independent investigation, a day after resigning from office.
Caldwell spoke on Saturday outside his home in New Brunswick, following his resignation on Friday afternoon.
Governor Mikie Sherrill had asked Caldwell to leave office on Thursday after an independent investigation accused him of sexual harassment and ethics violations.
Caldwell rejected the findings of the report, describing them as flawed while insisting that his decision to resign was not an admission of wrongdoing.
“The report, I think, was just specious. There are all sorts of wrong things and mistakes,” Caldwell said.
“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. You know, I think that there’s a lot of great things they’ve started. I started some great things at the Department of State that will be continued.”
Caldwell said he intended to return to life as a private citizen but would remain supportive of the Sherrill administration.
His departure means Sherrill now has 45 days to appoint a replacement lieutenant governor. Until then, acting State Comptroller Shirley Emehelu will take on the duties of acting secretary of state.
Caldwell’s lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, said the former lieutenant governor would continue challenging the conclusions reached by the investigation.
“Dr. Caldwell’s resignation, submitted to put an end to the targeted campaign to discredit his character, does not in any way diminish our outrage concerning the investigative process and its specious findings,” Calcagni said in a statement, in part.
“Counsel is fully exploring all legal remedies to ensure a true, balanced, and unbiased record.”
Sherrill, however, has defended the investigation and rejected concerns about its credibility, describing the process as “thorough, and it was impartial.”
