Sherrill: Misconduct allegations must be investigated
Governor issues statement in response to reports that Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell is under investigation, promises quick action if warranted
Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Tuesday that credible reports of misconduct involving members of her administration must be fully investigated. She also promised to take “appropriate action quickly” if warranted.
Her statement, released Tuesday just before noon, comes four days after reports emerged that Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell is under investigation.
Sherrill did not mention Caldwell by name in her statement or confirm that an investigation is underway.
“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,” Sherrill said. “If the evidence warrants, I will take appropriate action quickly.”
Caldwell, who also serves as secretary of state, is allegedly under investigation by the Sherrill administration over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women and possible ethics violations, as first reported by the New Jersey Globe.
On Tuesday, the Globe reported that a staffer for Sherrill’s 2025 campaign agreed to hear allegations from a Centenary University employee who wanted to report a hostile work environment while Caldwell was president of the school, but was ghosted by the staffer.
According to BINJE, Caldwell was interviewed two months ago, and the investigation has been ongoing for months.
Former New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino is leading the investigation with Shantae Gray, a former assistant U.S. attorney and one of Porrino’s law partners. Investigators have interviewed complainants, including state employees, as well as potential witnesses. Caldwell is cooperating with the investigation.
In her statement Tuesday, Sherrill stressed that people who report misconduct will be protected, as will the rights of those accused.
“Anyone must know that they can come forward with a complaint and they will be safe from retaliation,” Sherrill said. “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.”
Sherrill said public officials have an obligation to hold themselves to high standards.
“Public service is an honor,” she said. “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.”
Sherrill’s administration neither confirmed nor denied the investigation on Friday. Spokesperson Sean Higgins said the governor “would take any reports of inappropriate behavior or misconduct extremely seriously.”
Caldwell has not publicly responded to the allegations.
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Krystal Knapp is the founder, executive director, and publisher of The Jersey Vindicator and the founder of Planet Princeton. She has more than two decades of experience reporting in New Jersey, including 10 years at The Trenton Times, where she was the newsroom’s public records and computer-assisted reporting expert. Her work has been recognized by the New Jersey Press Association and the Center for Cooperative Media. You can reach her at Krystal AT jerseyvindicator.org.