TRENTON, N.J. — A Republican state lawmaker is calling for Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell to be immediately suspended without pay following a report that the Sherrill administration’s No. 2 official is under investigation for alleged inappropriate behavior involving women and possible ethics violations.
Assemblyman Al Barlas (R-Essex) weighed in Friday after The New Jersey Globe reported that Caldwell, who also serves as Secretary of State, is the subject of an internal investigation. According to the Globe’s David Wildstein, the allegations include inappropriate behavior toward women as well as possible ethics violations involving the purported offer of state jobs.
“We need a truly independent and thorough investigation into these allegations,” Barlas said. “We need to state in clear terms this misconduct can’t be tolerated.”
Barlas went further, arguing that Caldwell shouldn’t remain on the taxpayer payroll while the allegations are being investigated.
“The Lt Governor/Secretary of State should be placed on immediate administrative leave WITHOUT pay until the investigation is complete and its findings are made public,” Barlas said.
Then came the punchline.
“He shouldn’t be collecting a taxpayer funded paycheck while using state government as his personal Tinder account.”
The Sherrill administration has retained former New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino to conduct the investigation. Porrino and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Shantae Gray have reportedly interviewed complainants and potential witnesses, while Caldwell is said to be cooperating. The specific allegations have not yet been publicly detailed.
A Sherrill spokesman declined to confirm or deny what he characterized as a potential personnel matter but said the governor takes reports of misconduct seriously and expects public officials to meet high ethical standards.
Notably, Caldwell reportedly served as acting governor for three days last week after the investigation had already begun.
The controversy also arrives at a sensitive moment for Caldwell in his other role as Secretary of State, where he oversees the Division of Elections amid continuing scrutiny of New Jersey’s election administration.
The allegations against Caldwell remain allegations, and no findings of wrongdoing have been announced.
But Barlas’s message to Sherrill is straightforward: until New Jerseyans know what happened, Caldwell shouldn’t be running state government — or getting paid to do it.
