New Jersey’s governor called on her hand-picked lieutenant governor to resign by Friday after a law firm hired by her office concluded he behaved inappropriately around women.
The firm's report published Wednesday found that Dale Caldwell violated the state’s policy prohibiting discrimination in the workplace. It said he made an advance toward a staffer’s friend and when he was rebuffed, he told the staffer, “you young women are looking for young sperm.”
“The investigation found that the Lieutenant Governor engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a statement Thursday.
Caldwell’s lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, disputed the allegations, calling the investigation a one-sided operation that did not include necessary due process.
“The Lieutenant Governor was not provided a meaningful opportunity to address each of these anonymous allegations,” he said in a statement.
Caldwell “categorically denies” making the alleged statement about women wanting sperm, the lawyer said, adding that a state police trooper who was present at the time didn’t hear it said.
The report also accused Caldwell of breaking the state’s ethics rules by trying to get a promotion for a state employee he was dating.
In May, Caldwell emailed an unnamed official recommending his romantic partner, who he called a friend, for a promotion to a leadership position, the report said. He included her resume and a letter she sent expressing interest in a senior leadership position, according to the report.
Calcagni acknowledged that Caldwell had recommended a promotion for a woman with whom he had a personal relationship, but said he believed she was qualified for the job and hadn’t ordered anyone to promote her.
“There is a difference between failing to disclose a personal relationship when forwarding the resume of a qualified job applicant and actually using the power of public office to secure a job or financial benefit for someone,” Calcagni said.
The report also found seven ticketed events between Feb. 19 and May 23 where Caldwell reportedly brought one or more guests without paying for them. The events included one at the State Opera of New Jersey and a Rowan University Rosa Parks Scholarship Luncheon, with tickets ranging from $65 to $300, according to the report.
“Where a sponsor waives admission to an event for an official’s family member, friend, or date, the value of that admission is an impermissible benefit to the official,” the report said.
In May, Caldwell sent a message responding to accusations of ethical violations against him. He denied several claims, including that he gives out his businesses cards to women for inappropriate reasons, calling that “categorically untrue.”
“Unfortunately, in this current political environment, false accusations, especially against people of color, seem to be commonplace,” Caldwell, who is Black, wrote.
Sherrill, a Democrat, said Caldwell’s “ethical lapses” continued even with multiple warnings and trainings. She called his resignation “in the best interest of New Jersey residents.”
“These violations substantiated in the investigation reflect a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this Administration,” she said.
A Methodist pastor, Caldwell was president of Centenary University for two years before being elected lieutenant governor, a post that has existed in New Jersey for around 20 years.
While candidates for governor get to pick the people who will appear on the ticket as their running mate, and serve as lieutenant governor, it is an independently elected position.
New Jersey’s governor cannot fire Caldwell. She has the power to assign, or remove, him from certain responsibilities, and could effectively sideline him from playing an active role in state government. But lieutenant governors can be impeached and removed from office by the Legislature.
As lieutenant governor, Caldwell is first in line to become the governor if Sherrill were to die, be removed from office or become incapacitated. The lieutenant governor’s office, while more than ceremonial, is largely subservient to the governor.
Golden reported from Seattle.
FILE - New Jersey Democratic Lt. Governor elect Dale Caldwell speaks during an election night party in East Brunswick, N.J., Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Luis Arraez writhed in the dirt and grabbed his left ankle after he tried to avoid a tag and beat out a grounder.
The NL batting leader, Arraez stayed down for a while as Philadelphia Phillies trainers tended to him. He eventually hobbled off the field with assistance and could not put weight on the foot.
The All-Star second baseman could miss the final three games of the regular season with a sprained left ankle.
As for the Phillies?
They're hoping they don't miss the playoffs after wasting two opportunities to clinch an NL wild-card spot. They'll have to fend off the Arizona Diamondbacks over the final weekend of the season.
“Yeah, we're feeling pressure,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. “We should be feeling some pressure. I know I feel some pressure. It's that time of year and you're trying to win games.”
The Phillies' bullpen blew up again in the late innings against Milwaukee and their offense remained in a late-season funk. The Brewers reached 100 wins for the first time with their 5-1 victory.
The Phillies needed a win to at least have a shot at clinching their fifth straight trip to the playoffs. They get a third straight chance to clinch when they host Tampa Bay on Friday night.
Philadelphia leads Arizona by two games with three to play. The Diamondbacks finish the season at San Diego and own the tiebreaker over the Phillies.
“We're in the driver's seat,” All-Star Bryce Harper said. “We've got to win and take care of our business. We can't really worry about any other teams or what they're doing. We've got to keep going. Tampa's a great team, as well. We've got to go out and play our baseball.”
Philadelphia sends Cristopher Sánchez (18-6, 2.93 ERA) to the mound Friday against the AL East champion Rays, needing its ace left-hander to calm the nerves inside the clubhouse — and silence the fans who booed the team off the field after its latest loss.
The Phillies will surely play this weekend without Arraez, a three-time batting champion whose .310 average leads the NL.
Arraez hit a grounder in the sixth inning to shortstop Cooper Pratt, and a wide throw pulled first baseman Jake Bauers off the bag.
Arraez dived to his right to avoid the tag and immediately grabbed his ankle. X-rays were negative for Arraez, who is hitting .278 with the Phillies since he was obtained from San Francisco at the trade deadline.
Bryson Stott moved from third base to second and Edmundo Sosa took over at third.
Arraez's acquisition forced a major defensive shuffle that sent Harper from first base to right field, Stott from second to third and Alec Bohm from third to first. The Phillies have largely stuck with that defensive alignment down the stretch, but Mattingly now has options.
Sosa could stay at third and keep Harper in right, or Harper could move back to first — he said after the loss he was open to that — and Bryan De La Cruz could finish the season in right.
If the Phillies avoid a collapse that would place them alongside the 1964 team in franchise infamy, Arraez will have four days to heal before their NL Wild Card Series starts Tuesday.
No matter the lineup, the Phillies need to get hot. They have lost 12 of 20 overall and went 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position in two losses to the Brewers. Catcher J.T. Realmuto has gone 0 for his last 29.
The strength for the Phillies remains their starting rotation.
Andrew Painter allowed one run and struck out eight, another terrific outing in a second-half rebound that should see him play a role in the postseason in the rotation or out of the bullpen. Philadelphia got more good pitching news earlier in the day when All-Star lefty Jesús Luzardo said he has recovered enough from left shoulder inflammation that he should be able to pitch in the playoffs.
The question suddenly in Philadelphia is this: Can the Phillies even get there?
“I think it's more frustration than pressure,” struggling shortstop Trea Turner said. “I think we know how good we can be. At times, we haven't played to that standard. It feels like one thing doesn't go your way and sometimes it's here we go again.”
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Luis Arraez, right, throws to first base to complete a double play against Milwaukee Brewers' Garrett Mitchell (5) and Brice Turang during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies' Luis Arraez (4) is helped off the field after being injured during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies' Luis Arraez rects to an injury after being thrown out at first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
