New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell has resigned after an independent investigation substantiated a sexual harassment finding against him. Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the resignation one day after demanding he leave office. The fallout has quickly turned toward the governor herself. Critics online are now questioning her judgment and calling on her to resign as well.
A video of Sherrill’s announcement has circulated widely on X. In it, the governor explains how the resignation unfolded. She first demanded his exit following the release of the investigation into his conduct. The probe found the lieutenant governor failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office. It also found he “demonstrated a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this administration.”
The report documents “serious, repeated violations of state policy, including ethical lapses.” The governor then gave Caldwell a one-day deadline to go. He met it that same afternoon. “He submitted his resignation to me this afternoon, which I accepted,” she said.
Caldwell took office in January after joining Sherrill on the ticket as her running mate. The video does not describe the specific incidents behind the harassment finding. The governor also does not say who will fill the vacant post.
Sherrill Faces Backlash on X Over Caldwell Resignation
On X, much of the anger quickly moved past Caldwell and landed on the governor who brought him into office.
“She needs to resign immediately. She is incompetent and destroying our great state of NJ quicker that Murphy,” one user wrote. Another pointed directly to Sherrill’s role in Caldwell’s rise: “She picked him. She put him on the ticket. She made him Lieutenant Governor.”
Some users questioned how long the administration had known. “Mikie Sherrill’s admin knew the Lt. Gov was under investigation for months, yet he still kept his job and she left him in charge,” a separate post read. Others criticized the way the exit played out, with one user arguing, “the real scandal is she gave him a deadline to resign instead of firing him on the spot. thats not accountability thats a farewell tour.”
Not everyone saw it that way. “He was given a deadline. He quit That’s how this is supposed to end,” one response stated. Another user welcomed the process behind the findings: “Accountability at this level matters, glad the investigation ran independently.”
It remains unclear whether Caldwell will face consequences beyond losing his office. Questions over what the governor knew, and when, also remain unanswered.
