The facts
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, a Democrat, resigned on Friday, September 25, a day after Gov. Mikie Sherrill released a 61-page report from an independent investigation into his conduct and gave him until Friday to step down. Caldwell also served as secretary of state. Sherrill named state comptroller Shirley Emehelu acting secretary of state.
Investigators substantiated a finding of sexual harassment. According to the report, after a female staffer's friend turned down Caldwell's advances, he told the staffer that ambitious women like them needed a man in a position to help them, "but you young women are looking for young sperm." Caldwell denied saying it. The report said: "we did not find his denial credible." His lawyer said Caldwell "categorically denies" the remark.
The report also found Caldwell tried to get a promotion for a state employee he was dating, and brought personal guests to the opera and other ticketed events without paying for them as ethics rules require. His lawyer acknowledged Caldwell recommended the woman for a promotion but denied he ordered anyone to promote her. In a letter included in the report, Caldwell said he suspected his relationships with women drew extra scrutiny because he is a single Black man. His attorney called the investigation one-sided. After resigning, Caldwell said he stepped down to avoid distracting from the Sherrill administration, called the investigation poorly done, and said he still supports the governor.
Our take
There are plenty of ways to handle rejection. "She's not interested." "Bad timing." "I am the lieutenant governor and should not be hitting on my staffer's friends." Dale Caldwell, according to state investigators, went with a fertility lecture: ambitious young women need a powerful man, but they are "looking for young sperm."
Picture being the staffer who had to stand there while your boss delivered a nature documentary about your friend's reproductive preferences because she didn't want to date him. Investigators listened to his denial and wrote that they didn't find it credible, which is report language for "sit the fuck down."
The sperm line got the headlines, but the rest of the report is a buffet. He tried to get a promotion for a state employee he was dating. He brought guests to the opera and other ticketed events without paying, as the ethics rules require. So the full profile is a man who believes young women crave his seed, tried to promote his girlfriend on the public payroll, and still couldn't cough up for the fucking opera seats.
His exit statement is a masterpiece of having it both ways. He quit so he wouldn't be a distraction. He supports the governor. He thinks her investigation was poorly done. That's getting thrown out of the bar and telling everyone you left to give the other customers more room.
Sherrill had no way to fire an elected lieutenant governor, so she handed him a deadline and a 61-page receipt. He took the deadline. The receipt is public forever.
New Jersey now needs a new lieutenant governor. Minimum qualification: can hear the word no without bringing up sperm.
