Government gossip gets going on high gear

Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell’s resignation drew reactions from political and civic leaders across New Jersey, including Democrats who said the investigation’s findings made his continued service untenable and Republicans who had demanded his departure before the inquiry was completed.

Whether the charges are valid or not, Caldwell decided to get out of the way of state business and the upcoming midterm elections father than invite a possible impeachment process.

Now that tge episode has concluded, it seems like everyone is talking about it.

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both Democrats, joined Sherrill in calling for Caldwell to step down after the investigative report was released. Neither senator had publicly demanded his resignation before investigators issued their findings.

Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio and Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco, who had called for Caldwell’s resignation while the investigation was still underway, said after the report was released that its findings confirmed the seriousness of the allegations

“It is deeply disappointing that today’s report has confirmed and substantiated the ethics complaints and harassment allegations against Lt. Gov. Caldwell,” Bucco said. He said the Legislature should take action if Caldwell refused to resign.

Republican state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon also said Caldwell needed to leave office after the findings became public.

“It is inappropriate and he needs to resign,” O’Scanlon told News 12 New Jersey. “He can’t dig his heels in now … he needs to get out.”

New Jersey Republican State Committee Chair Christine Giordano Hanlon had gone further weeks earlier, demanding Caldwell’s immediate resignation on Sept. 5, before investigators had completed their work or publicly disclosed the evidence.

Hanlon argued at the time that the existence and duration of the investigation demonstrated that the allegations were serious and criticized Sherrill for allowing Caldwell to continue serving while the inquiry proceeded.

A group of prominent Black elected officials, clergy members and civic leaders took a different tone after Caldwell resigned, praising both his decision to leave office and Sherrill’s handling of the completed investigation.

“We commend and appreciate Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell for making what we know could not have been an easy decision,” the group said. “By choosing to step down and ending this controversy, he has put the interests of the people of New Jersey and the work of our state ahead of himself.”

Lisa McCormick, a progressive Democrat and former U.S. Senate candidate, said Caldwell made the right decision by resigning once an independent investigation substantiated allegations against him, but she criticized Republican leaders who demanded his departure before investigators had finished their work.

“Dale Caldwell did the right thing by resigning once an investigation found credible evidence that he violated the standards expected of public officials,” McCormick said. “Gov. Mikie Sherrill also did the right thing by ordering an independent investigation, making the findings public and demanding accountability when the evidence warranted it.”

McCormick accused Republican legislative leaders of applying a different standard to President Donald Trump.

“Republican leaders recklessly demanded Caldwell’s resignation before the investigation was finished, but they have shown nothing resembling that outrage over the litany of misconduct involving Donald Trump,” McCormick said. “Accountability cannot be a partisan weapon that Republicans demand when a Democrat is accused of wrongdoing and abandon when their own party’s leader is involved.”

“Caldwell was investigated, the evidence was evaluated, findings were issued and he resigned,” McCormick said. “That is how accountability is supposed to work. The standard should be facts, evidence and equal justice — not whether the person accused has a D or an R after his name.”