wfmz.com · Amelia Sack, WFMZ-TV · September 9, 2026
NJ lawmakers demand answers from Sherrill on investigation into Lt. Gov. Caldwell's alleged conduct toward women | Regional | wfmz.com
# NJ lawmakers demand answers from Sherrill on investigation into Lt. Gov. Caldwell's alleged conduct toward women
- Amelia Sack,
#### Amelia Sack
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TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State Dale Caldwell is under investigation for alleged inappropriate conduct toward women as well as possible ethics violations.
Caldwell is the second in command next to Governor Mikie Sherrill.
Lawmakers want transparency from Governor Mikie Sherrill. They argue that the people of New Jersey deserve answers about what's going on with the investigation.
Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell is under scrutiny just 8 months after being sworn in as he faces an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct towards women and ethics violations tied to state job offers.
According to reports, an outside investigation led by a former attorney general has been going on since late spring.
Some New Jersey lawmakers, like Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio, are criticizing Governor Mikie Sherrill's handling of the matter, asking her to release more information to the public about the nature of the investigation.
DiMaio released a statement saying:
"We have been here before. A senior official under investigation for alleged misconduct with women. An administration that says nothing publicly. New Jerseyans lived through the Al Alvarez scandal under Governor Murphy, and officials who claimed ignorance were later shown to have known more than they let on. Governor Sherrill promised something different. Right now, she isn't delivering it."
Sherill is not disclosing what the allegations are, or why the lieutenant governor has not been placed on administrative leave.
Without naming Caldwell specifically, Governor Sherrill releasing a statement Tuesday saying in part:
“Public service is an honor. And I have spent a lifetime of service in the Navy, as a prosecutor, in Congress, and now as Governor. I know that jobs of public trust impact the lives of everyday people and I deeply respect the oaths and responsibilities of these positions.
Because of this respect, I demand that everyone in my administration hold themselves to the highest standards and put their obligations to public service first.
I take my responsibility to treat any reports of inappropriate behavior or misconduct extremely seriously, and any credible report must be fully examined and addressed. If the evidence warrants, I will take appropriate action quickly.
At the same time, I have a vital responsibility to the safety and privacy of every person. Anyone must know that they can come forward with a complaint and they will be safe from retaliation. The subject of a complaint must also know and be confident that their rights will be protected as well and they will receive a fair and thorough review.
Let me be clear, I do not back down from tough fights or tough conversations, and I will always put the interests of New Jerseyans first.”
DiMaio said Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s statement Tuesday on the investigation into Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell answered none of the questions that have been building since the story broke, and said the pattern still looks familiar.
Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips said the Alvarez scandal wasn't only defined by the original misconduct, but by what came after, shifting timelines and officials who said they didn't know things, but records later showed they did. He said the governor's silence now is becoming the story in its own right.
"She doesn't get to hide behind 'we don't comment on personnel matters' when the man under investigation holds two constitutional offices, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State, and still has the full powers of the governor's office whenever she leaves the state," said DePhillips (R-Bergen).
"We don't know what the allegations are, and I'm not going to pretend we do," DiMaio said. "But not knowing is exactly why the governor needs to answer basic questions, instead of letting her spokesman say ‘no comment' while she skips town and leaves him in charge."
"Those aren't partisan questions," DePhillips said. "They're the basic questions any lawmaker, Republican or Democrat, should be demanding answers to. And the governor should be the one answering them, in public, not her communications shop."
Governor Sherrill's office has brought in an outside law firm to handle the probe.
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