Former N.J. Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell faces another investigation into his conduct -- this time by his church

Susan Livio, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Oct 1, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, who resigned last week following a report that found evidence he had engaged in sexual harassment, is being investigated by his church, according to an email from a bishop.

Caldwell told The Inquirer Thursday he was not facing any new allegations of impropriety. The Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey Episcopal Area was simply “investigating the investigation, based on the same information.”

“It’s a piling on, and it’s crazy,” said Caldwell, the senior pastor at Covenant United Methodist Church in Plainfield. He said he intends to continue on in this role and that no one has asked him to step aside.

Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, the bishop of the Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey Episcopal Area, sent a brief email to colleagues on Sept. 25, hours after Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced Caldwell’s resignation that day.

“I write to inform you that I have received a complaint concerning Rev. Dale Caldwell, Lt. Governor of New Jersey and licensed pastor. The complaint is being processed according to the policies and procedures of the United Methodist Church,” the bishop’s email said.

She asked that they pray for him “and all those impacted by this process,” the email said. Moore-Koikoi included a Bible verse, 1 Corithians 4:5a: “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.”

Both Caldwell and his attorney have vociferously denied the former lieutenant governor and secretary of state did anything wrong and have criticized the findings of the four-month investigation by former Attorney General Christopher Porrino, who served under Gov. Chris Christie.

The report said Caldwell made inappropriate comments to women and violated ethics rules. Caldwell, 66, left his job as president of Centenary University to run with Sherrill last year. The investigation found Caldwell hit on a female staffer’s friend, and when she turned him down, he told the staffer that ambitious women like them needed a man in a position to help them, “but you young women are looking for young sperm.”

Caldwell denied making the comments, “but we did not find his denial credible,” the report said. The state trooper accompanying Caldwell that day told investigators he never heard Caldwell make that statement.

Caldwell said Thursday he couldn’t understand why they “disregarded” the testimony of the trooper, ”who was two feet away."

The report said Caldwell also repeatedly brought personal guests to ticketed events without clearing it with the ethics officer and without paying for the extra tickets. The practice continued even after warnings, attending an ethics training, and being told about the investigation.

In releasing the report, Sherrill said it “lays out a pattern and practice of long-term concerning behavior.”

His attorney said when Caldwell “learned that reimbursement was appropriate in one particular situation, he reimbursed $175 for the event.”

Caldwell said he resigned “for the good of the state of New Jersey” because the matter distracted from the Sherrill Administration’s important work.

He and his attorney have said they are weighing their legal options. When asked what he might do, he said he could “sue for harassment.” He lamented “there was something wrong with the American system of justice” because it would take an enormous amount of money to prove he did nothing wrong.

“I can leave with my head up. I have a 22-year-old daughter and she was seeing all these people attack her dad,” Caldwell said. “I have a good life and opportunities. The number of supporters are many more than the detractors.”

____

(Staff Writer Aliya Schneider contributed to this report.)