Sherrill v. Caldwell

Good morning!

Welp.

The Sherrill administration last night released its investigative report on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, along with a demand from Gov. Mikie Sherrill that Caldwell resign today.

The 61-page report has been months in the making, with the probe launched after an anonymous May letter to state officials alleging that Caldwell was hitting on women at various functions (Caldwell is single).

The report makes a few specific allegations, including that Caldwell made crass remarks to a female staffer, brought dates to multiple events without paying for them to attend, and, in perhaps the most serious allegation, repeatedly sought a promotion for a state worker he was dating.

 “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,” Sherrill said. “I hold everyone in my Administration to the highest ethical standard. We all have a duty to follow our state ethics and harassment policy and our Code of Conduct. Anyone who violates these will be held accountable.”

Caldwell says he’s innocent.

“We firmly disagree with the three findings,” Thomas Calcagni, one of his attorneys, said in a statement. “Dr. Caldwell believes that a fair review of the complete record will show that the conclusions reached in the report go far beyond what the evidence establishes.”

Caldwell was elected as lieutenant governor in November, so Sherrill cannot force him from that role single-handedly and it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere today. A mess.

Read more from Nikita Biryukov.

More: The report’s release led to calls for Caldwell’s resignation from some prominent Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim and Rep. Analilia Mejia. Republican state Sen. Anthony Bucco said if Caldwell doesn’t resign, the Legislature “should follow the necessary protocols to resolve this matter once and for all.” Assemblyman Alex Sauickie (R) said Sherrill should resign for leaving Caldwell in charge as acting governor over the summer as her admin was investigating him.

Statehouse: The Assembly met yesterday before all hell broke loose in Trenton, and it overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allow political candidates to use campaign funds for certain security purposes. A group of Republicans objected, saying campaign supporters should not foot the bill for heightened security. “The money should certainly not be coming from donors who don’t even know that you’ll be spending this money on other things other than getting elected,” Assemblyman John Azzariti (R-Bergen) said.

Menendez: In incredibly funny news, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals appeared open yesterday to arguments that the actions that sent former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez to federal prison were protected legislative activity, Erica Orden of Politico reports. Menendez was found guilty of a slew of bribery-related offenses in 2024, but he has always contended the Constitution shielded his actions from prosecution.

Utilities: The Board of Public Utilities met Thursday and voted to keep electric rates largely level. “Taken together with the items on the agenda earlier this month, these actions will result in no net increase in electricity rates and a slight decrease in gas rates,” said Ben Hertz-Shargel, the board’s president. Sherrill campaigned for governor last year largely on a promise to freeze skyrocketing electric rates.

Courts: Dan Israel at Hudson County View reports that a jury awarded $853K to a retired Union City cop who alleged he was not promoted because he is Dominican, with the panel finding that the city’s mayor, state Sen. Brian Stack (D), was liable for aiding and abetting the discrimination.

Business: In news that is bound to create some confusing headlines in the future, the New Jersey Food Council has tapped Jim McGreevy — a former Coca-Cola exec, not the ex-governor, who is Jim McGreevey — as its new president and CEO.

Hudson: Because nothing in Jersey City can just be normal, one of the “Mangionistas” — this is the group of three women that publicly gush over Luigi Mangione, the guy who admitted he murdered a healthcare executive over anger at the health insurance system — is an aide to Councilman Jake Ephros. He defended his Mangionista aide, Abril Rios, as a communications professional with valuable experience. Ephros told Alec Sturm of NJ dot com, “My understanding is her involvement in the Luigi case is around her support for Medicare for All.” Sure, why not?