\n<\/p>\n
TRENTON, N.J. — <\/span>TRENTON, N.J. (AP) \u2014 New Jersey<\/a> \u2019s Democratic lieutenant governor has resigned after the governor demanded he step down<\/a> over sexual harassment allegations and ethical lapses involving his relationships with women.<\/p>\n Gov. Mikie Sherrill had given Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell an ultimatum that he resign by Friday, though she lacked the power to remove him if he said no. Sherrill announced the resignation at a news conference that afternoon.<\/p>\n \u201cHis decision will allow us to move forward with important work serving the people of our state,\u201d she said. \u201cIn my administration we are committed to doing what is right, not what is politically expedient.\u201d<\/p>\n Sherrill picked Caldwell<\/a>, a Methodist pastor and former president of Centenary University, to be her running mate last year. They were elected together and took office in January<\/a>, but within four months Caldwell had become the subject of an anonymous complaint about his behavior with women.<\/p>\n In New Jersey, a governor can\u2019t fire the lieutenant governor, as the post is independently elected. <\/p>\n But lieutenant governors can be impeached and removed from office by the Legislature. A governor can strip a lieutenant governor of nearly all duties and responsibilities, effectively sidelining them from the administration.<\/p>\n Sherrill hired the law firm of a former New Jersey attorney general, Christopher Porrino, to investigate.<\/p>\n In a report released Thursday, the lawyers said Caldwell had committed several violations of state policy. It said Caldwell, 66, had made an advance toward a staff member\u2019s friend and when he was rebuffed told the staffer, \u201cyou young women are looking for young sperm.\u201d<\/p>\n The report also said Caldwell had 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 required by ethics rules.<\/p>\n Caldwell denied any misconduct, and said in a letter included in the law firm\u2019s report that he suspected his relationships with women were being subjected to extra scrutiny because he was a single Black man.<\/p>\n His lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, said Caldwell never made the sperm statement or used his position to further his romantic life. Caldwell did recommend a female friend for a promotion, Calcagni said, but only because he thought she would be a good candidate for the job. He denied ordering anyone to promote her or knowingly violating ethics rules by failing to disclose their personal relationship when he recommended her.<\/p>\n Sherrill had said Caldwell needed to resign because he had committed \u201cserious, repeated violations of state policy,\u201d despite multiple warnings and trainings.<\/p>\n Besides being the first in line to become governor if Sherrill were to die, be removed from office or become incapacitated, Caldwell had also served as New Jersey\u2019s appointed secretary of state. In that role, he had a supervisory role over the state\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n In neighboring New York, a similar impasse has played out over the past year between Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and her estranged Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who launched a caustic primary challenge<\/a> to unseat her only to withdraw from the race<\/a> as the election neared.<\/p>\n Hochul is now running for reelection in November with Adrienne Adams, the former speaker of the New York City Council, as her replacement lieutenant governor<\/a> nominee. <\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Marcelo reported from New York. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n