Hanlon Lays Out Top 10 Questions That Must Be Answered and Calls for a Special Joint Legislative Investigative Committee

COLTS NECK, N.J. ⎯ Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell has resigned following the release of an investigation report that substantiated violations of New Jersey workplace and ethics policies, including a finding of sexual harassment (the “Caldwell Investigation Report”).

But Caldwell’s resignation does not resolve the broader questions surrounding the Sherrill administration’s handling of the matter and the concerns about his conduct.

The Caldwell Investigation Report released by Governor Sherrill’s administration makes clear that concerns about Caldwell’s conduct were raised months before the formal investigation began. That raises fundamental questions: What did Governor Sherrill and her senior administration officials know, when did they know it, and why did they continue to put Caldwell in a position of public trust after those concerns were raised?

“The questions are even more troubling given what happened as these concerns unfolded,” said NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon. “Caldwell continued to stand alongside Sherrill at official events, political appearances and press conferences — including events where the Governor touted transparency and accountability in her administration — as the public remained unaware that concerns about Caldwell’s conduct had already been raised and an investigation was underway.”

The Sherrill administration continued to put Caldwell in front of the public, at times leaving him to serve as Acting Governor as Sherrill campaigned out of state. The contrast between the administration’s public message of transparency and its silence about an ongoing investigation involving the state’s second-highest-ranking official demands answers.

“Some may be ready to declare this matter closed following Caldwell’s resignation and praise the Governor for taking ‘swift action,’” continued Hanlon. “But Caldwell’s resignation is only the beginning. The unanswered questions surrounding the timeline, the administration’s prior knowledge, Caldwell’s continued public role, the Governor’s repeated trips out of state while he remained under investigation, and the fact that the public was never informed of the investigation demand far more scrutiny.”

“This is not simply a question of whether Caldwell should have resigned. It is a question of what the Governor knew, when she knew it, what her administration did with that information, and why the public was kept in the dark.”

Hanlon is laying out the top ten questions that must be answered by Governor Sherrill to provide the transparency and accountability New Jerseyans deserve.

THE TOP TEN QUESTIONS GOVERNOR SHERRILL MUST ANSWER

1. What did Governor Sherrill know about concerns involving Dale Caldwell either before he was selected as her running mate or at any time before his swearing-in as Lieutenant Governor, and when did she first become aware of them?

2. What independent steps did the Sherrill campaign take to investigate or vet concerns about Caldwell’s conduct toward women before the 2025 election?

3. Between the initial concerns raised during the campaign and the formal investigation in May 2026, what additional complaints or warnings about Caldwell were communicated to Governor Sherrill or senior members of her administration?

4. Why was no formal disciplinary action taken against Caldwell before May 22, 2026, even though concerns about his conduct were known to senior administration officials, as evidenced by additional training he received as far back as February 2026?

5. Which “senior administration officials” described in the Caldwell Investigation Report were informed of the concerns as early as February 2026, and when was Governor Sherrill personally informed?

6. After senior administration officials were made aware of Caldwell’s concerning behavior, why did the administration rely on informal counseling rather than take formal action, including after a “strategic advisor” was asked to speak to Caldwell about his behavior in March 2026?

7. Were the March 25 and May 1 conversations or counseling sessions with Caldwell described in the report formally documented, and what records exist concerning those interactions?

8. Why did Governor Sherrill continue to publicly appear with Caldwell and utilize him in prominent public-facing roles while concerns about his conduct were known within her administration and an investigation was underway?

9. Why did Governor Sherrill continue to leave the state and place Caldwell in the position of Acting Governor after concerns about his conduct had been raised within her administration?

10. Who were the outside “strategic” advisers not employed by the state referenced in the Caldwell Investigation Report, what role did they play, what access did they have to confidential information concerning complaints about Caldwell, and why are they entitled to confidentiality?

NJGOP CALLS FOR A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE

Caldwell’s resignation does not end the need for accountability.

The investigation addressed allegations concerning Caldwell’s conduct and resulted in findings against the former Lieutenant Governor. But the broader questions surrounding the Sherrill administration’s knowledge, response and decision-making remain.

“The NJGOP is calling for a Special Joint Legislative Investigative Committee to independently examine the Sherrill administration’s handling of the matter and provide the transparency and accountability New Jerseyans deserve,” said Hanlon. “Caldwell has resigned. Now Governor Sherrill must answer the questions that remain — and the Legislature must conduct an independent investigation to ensure the public gets the full story.”

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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COLTS NECK, N.J. ⎯ NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon today responded to
Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell’s resignation, saying his departure does not resolve serious questions surrounding Governor Mikie Sherrill’s handling of the controversy.

“Make no mistake: this is a colossal failure of the Sherrill administration,” said Chairwoman Hanlon. “Dale Caldwell is gone, but the questions aren’t. Governor Sherrill chose him, her campaign received concerns about him before Election Day, and her own administration acknowledges that his ethical lapses continued despite multiple warnings and trainings. That is not zero tolerance.”

During her press conference on the matter, Sherrill’s statement acknowledged that Caldwell’s violations persisted despite “multiple warnings and trainings.” The investigative report describes at least five trainings, warnings or counseling interventions before the formal investigation, including direct warnings concerning his conduct toward women.

“Then, while Caldwell was under investigation, Governor Sherrill repeatedly left New Jersey and Caldwell served as Acting Governor 18 times,” Hanlon said. “New Jerseyans deserve to know why someone facing an investigation this serious was repeatedly entrusted with the powers of the Governor.”

“The questions go back even further. During the campaign, a Centenary University employee attempted to raise concerns about Caldwell with a Sherrill campaign staffer. The campaign says it engaged counsel to review the matter. New Jerseyans deserve to know exactly what the campaign learned, who knew it, and how Caldwell was ultimately vetted and selected for one of the highest offices in our state.”

“Caldwell’s resignation is not accountability for everything that happened before it,” Hanlon concluded. “There are many more questions that will need to be answered. This was a major failure of the Sherrill administration. Caldwell is gone. The questions aren’t.”

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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Chairwoman Hanlon Demands Transparency and Accountability from Trenton as Governor Joins NJGOP’s Call for the Lieutenant Governor’s Resignation

COLTS NECK, N.J. ⎯ NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon responded to the governor’s announcement calling for Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell to resign, noting that the NJGOP called for his immediate resignation nearly three weeks ago amid reports of an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct toward women.

“When we called for Dale Caldwell’s resignation back on September 5, we were criticized for being premature. Now the governor is finally making that very same call,” said Chairwoman Hanlon. “We spoke out because the people of New Jersey deserved answers about an investigation that had been underway for months while this administration kept the public in the dark. The report released today makes clear why our concerns could not wait.” 

The 61-page investigative report substantiated allegations of sexual harassment and violations of state ethics rules. It also documented that concerns about Caldwell’s conduct toward women had been raised internally before the formal investigation began, and that he continued certain misconduct after repeated warnings and trainings.

“The report released today makes clear why decisive action could not wait. Based upon the Governor’s public statements that she would investigate every ‘credible’ complaint as well as her failure to publicly give him even the slightest expression of support or confidence once the investigation was made known to the public by the New Jersey Globe, we knew the conduct was egregious,” Chairwoman Hanlon said.  

Hanlon also called out the failure of leadership by Governor Sherrill and members of her administration for mishandling the situation by ignoring a woman’s complaint and failing to address the issues in a timely fashion. According to a report by the New Jersey Globe, allegations date back to before Sherrill’s election, when her team was contacted during her campaign in September 2025 by a woman seeking to make a complaint about Caldwell, but the woman was rebuffed. Her administration was again made aware of inappropriate behavior by Caldwell in March 2026, months before the investigation began. He was confronted about his concerning behavior toward women on March 25 and again on May 1, but the investigation did not begin until late May.   

“The Governor’s call for Caldwell to resign now does not erase the administration’s failure to be transparent or explain why he was allowed to continue serving in positions of authority despite repeated warnings,” Chairwoman Hanlon said. “The report reveals a troubling failure of leadership inside the Sherrill administration.  In the face of concerns about Caldwell’s conduct, Mikie Sherrill continued leaving the state, placing Caldwell in the position of Acting Governor while these serious allegations and an active investigation surrounded him. There are many more questions that need to be answered.”  

The NJGOP is committed to holding the Sherrill administration accountable and continuing to call for transparency for all New Jerseyans.  

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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COLTS NECK – The New Jersey Republican Party, Republican National Committee, Congressman Tom Kean Jr., and New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco are filing a lawsuit against New Jersey election officials over their failure to provide records concerning the maintenance and accuracy of the state’s voter rolls.

The lawsuit comes after requests for records showing how election officials identify, review, and remove potentially ineligible registrations went unanswered.

The lawsuit is being filed under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which requires states to maintain accurate and current voter registration lists and make records concerning voter list maintenance available for public inspection. The plaintiffs are seeking records related to how New Jersey officials maintain the state’s voter rolls and identify and remove potentially ineligible registrations.

The need for answers is clear. In July, Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced that a software error in New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission system resulted in approximately 6,600 people who had indicated they were not U.S. citizens being registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024.

The plaintiffs requested records to determine how these registrations occurred, how election officials identified affected registrations, what steps were taken to correct the voter rolls, and what is being done to ensure the accuracy of New Jersey’s voter registration system. The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring the requested records to be provided.

“The administration has acknowledged that approximately 6,600 people who indicated they were not U.S. citizens were registered to vote. New Jersey voters have a right to know how this happened, how these registrations were identified, and what steps are being taken to ensure it does not happen again,” said NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon.

“Transparency cannot stop at a press conference,” continued Hanlon. “If election officials are confident that our voter registration system is being properly maintained, they should have no problem providing the records that show it. New Jersey voters deserve nothing less.”

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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COLTS NECK, NJ – NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon today called on Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell to resign immediately, following continued reports about the investigation into allegations of his inappropriate conduct toward women.

“On Friday after reviewing the bombshell report by David Wildstein in the Globe, we laid out a series of questions that the public needed answers to, including ‘when did Governor Sherrill know?’” said Chairwoman Hanlon.  “We now have the answer as reported in BINJE: months ago.” 

“According to reports, an outside investigation led by a former Attorney General began in the late spring and the Lieutenant Governor sat with investigators two months ago. And in all that time, the Sherrill Administration told the people of New Jersey nothing — while Dale Caldwell continued to serve as Lieutenant Governor, as Secretary of State, and repeatedly as Acting Governor of this state while Governor Sherrill was off campaigning for congressional candidates in other states. 

“Let that sink in. New Jersey had an Acting Governor under investigation for inappropriate conduct toward women and potential ethics violations, and the administration that promised to be the most transparent in history kept it quiet for months,” continued Hanlon.  “The fact that this investigation has been going on for months clearly indicates that these are very serious allegations.”

“Moreover, Governor Sherrill, the first woman Democratic Governor in New Jersey, allowed the potential behavior to continue for months while shrouding the investigation in secrecy, putting more women potentially at risk.  This could be the worst handling of a crisis in modern history. Caldwell should have been placed on leave during the investigation. As a mother of three daughters, I consider this an outrage!”

“The Administration’s statement in response to the reporting is equally disturbing, passing the situation off as a ‘personnel’ matter in an effort to shield the information from the public.  The Governor and Lieutenant Governor should not be considered ‘personnel’ – they are the highest level elected officials in the state and must be held to the highest standard of accountability and transparency.”

“Caldwell is not only the Lieutenant Governor but is also our Secretary of State — the official charged with overseeing New Jersey’s elections. That office cannot function under these circumstances. For the good of the state, and out of respect for the women whose complaints prompted this investigation, Dale Caldwell must resign as Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State immediately.”

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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COLTS NECK, NJ – NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon issued the following statement after learning of allegations of inappropriate conduct toward women by the Lieutenant Governor as reported in the New Jersey Globe. “One mess after another in the Sherrill Administration. An active investigation led by a former Attorney General into allegations of inappropriate behavior by Lieutenant Governor Caldwell toward women is the latest. And talk about failure to be transparent – it appears the Sherrill administration did not disclose the investigation until the New Jersey Globe’s investigation had begun.

New Jersey residents deserve to know: 

– How many complainants are there? 

– When did the alleged inappropriate activity take place? 

– Was the conduct during the time Sherrill was off stumping for congressional candidates in other states? 

– When did the investigation begin? 

– Was Caldwell under investigation while serving as acting governor? 

Governor Sherrill appears more focused on preparing a presidential run than governing New Jersey, and it’s time to hold her accountable. Sherrill promised transparency and accountability. So far we have had none. Accountability delayed is accountability denied. New Jerseyans deserve answers.”

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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COLTS NECK, NJ – NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon issued the following statement after learning of allegations of inappropriate conduct toward women by the Lieutenant Governor as reported in the New Jersey Globe. “One mess after another in the Sherrill Administration. An active investigation led by a former Attorney General into allegations of inappropriate behavior by Lieutenant Governor Caldwell toward women is the latest. And talk about failure to be transparent – it appears the Sherrill administration did not disclose the investigation until the New Jersey Globe’s investigation had begun.

New Jersey residents deserve to know: 

– How many complainants are there? 

– When did the alleged inappropriate activity take place? 

– Was the conduct during the time Sherrill was off stumping for congressional candidates in other states? 

– When did the investigation begin? 

– Was Caldwell under investigation while serving as acting governor? 

Governor Sherrill appears more focused on preparing a presidential run than governing New Jersey, and it’s time to hold her accountable. Sherrill promised transparency and accountability. So far we have had none. Accountability delayed is accountability denied. New Jerseyans deserve answers.”

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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Evidence shows noncitizen registrations before and after alleged  MVC “glitch”

COLTS NECK, N.J. ⎯ The NJGOP is calling for New Jersey’s investigation into the alleged Motor Vehicle Commission “glitch” between June of 2023 and June of 2024 that allowed thousands of non-citens to register to vote to extend beyond that one-year period. Documentary evidence received from New Jersey election officials pursuant to records requests has revealed that the problem is much larger than admitted by the Sherrill administration.

“Based on public records obtained by the NJGOP, there is ample evidence non-citizens were added to New Jersey’s voter rolls before June 2023 and extending well beyond June 2024,” said NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon, referring to the timeframe during which Gov. Mikie Sherrill acknowledged that approximately 6,600 noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote by the Motor Vehicle Commission. “I am calling on the Sherrill administration to ensure any investigation is not limited to the timeframe of this one instance so that New Jersey voters can be assured every effort to restore integrity to our voter rolls is being made.”  

An analysis from public records obtained from New Jersey elections offices by the NJGOP reveal that non-citizens have been allowed to access New Jersey’s voter rolls over the course of many years and continuing to recent dates. In just one example, documents obtained from Hudson County demonstrated that more than 50% of the documented non-citizen registrations took place outside the June 2023 to June 2024 time frame that the Sherrill administration points to as the only time period non-citizens were allowed to register to vote.  

“Only a comprehensive investigation and audit of New Jersey’s voter rolls can ensure election integrity and restore the confidence of New Jersey voters,” said Chairwoman Hanlon. “It’s time for not only a full audit of our New Jersey voter rolls, but we must reform the entire system to ensure that only American citizens are able to register to vote and vote in our elections.” 

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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Member of the European Parliament & Conservative Leader Headlined Rally and Coalition Launch in New Jersey’s “Little Poland” on August 15, joined by Republican Congressional Candidate Rosie Pino

WALLINGTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Republican Party (NJGOP) hosted Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Dominik Tarczyński at a special, free public rally on Saturday, August 15, at 6:00 PM.

The high-profile event brought in hundreds of supporters and took place at Cracovia Manor, located at 196 Main Avenue in Wallington, New Jersey. Tarczynski is a highly popular Polish leader with a wide international media presence. Best known for his strong public stances on curtailing illegal immigration and his slogan “Be like Poland”.

Wallington holds profound cultural significance for the event as a historic hub widely celebrated as “Little Poland,” with an estimated 43% to 50% of its local population tracing their ancestry directly to Poland. The community serves as a vibrant cornerstone of Polish-American heritage in the Garden State.

MEP Tarczyński was joined at the rally by Clifton Councilwoman and Republican Nominee for Congress in NJ-09, Rosie Pino. The 9th Congressional District includes Wallington and several other municipalities that are home to thriving communities of Polish-American patriots who share conservative values of faith, family, and freedom.

“We were incredibly excited to welcome Dominik Tarczyński to New Jersey,” said NJGOP Vice-Chair Pavel Sokolov, whose wife and son are of Polish descent. “Dominik is a steadfast leader who has contributed immensely to making Poland a safe country by rejecting globalism and the influx of disastrous illegal immigration. His voice resonates deeply with freedom-loving Americans who believe in strong borders and national sovereignty.”

The event drew hundreds of Polish-American New Jerseyans who came together with tremendous enthusiasm for the visit.  The NJGOP officially launched its Polish-American Republican Coalition at the event, naming Johan Iwanowski as its chair.  

“Johan brings great passion to the position and the coalition could not come at a better time as we see the Democratic Party in New Jersey lurching to the left and embracing socialism,” said NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon. “New Jerseyans of Polish descent number almost 500,000 and it is important to highlight how important this community is to our state and to the Republican Party. I am grateful to Johan and all those who planned this tremendous event, including coalition chair Iwanowski, NJGOP Vice Chair Pavel Sokolov, and Congressional District-9 candidate Rosie Pino.”

The event was attended by numerous Republican elected officials and party leaders from across the state. 

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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COLTS NECK, N.J. ⎯ The New Jersey Republican Party released a new video highlighting the far-left surge within today’s Democratic Party, as extremists and socialists are being elected in primaries across the nation. Titled “Terrible Ideas,” the video warns of the potential impact of the growing leftist tidal wave within the Democratic Party. 

“The Democratic Party of New Jersey is being pulled to the radical left by activists and political extremists,” said NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon. “The party that once claimed to represent working families is increasingly controlled by those who have lost touch with the values and concerns of hardworking New Jerseyans who are struggling with an affordability crisis and concerned about safety.”  

The video, which can be viewed on the NJGOP’s Facebook page and website, was created to demonstrate the significant shift of ideologies and records of a growing list of radicalized Democratic candidates and elected officials, such as:  

• Adam Hamawy, who has called for the dismantling of the Department of Homeland Security and defunding America’s military and has defended Omar Abdel-Rahman, aka the “Blind Sheikh,” convicted of terrorist conspiracy in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
• Analilia Mejia, a self-professed Democratic Socialist, who has called for the abolition of ICE and campaigned on the same radical agenda championed by Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
• Rebecca Bennett, who has embraced progressive policies, supported efforts to impeach President Trump, acknowledged a desire to raise taxes on hardworking New Jersey families, and prioritized illegal immigrants over New Jersey citizens.

“Even mainstream Democrats are calling out this leftward surge, characterizing the ideology as ‘terrible ideas.’ This movement is gaining ground here in New Jersey, and it represents the future of today’s Democratic Party,” Chairwoman Hanlon added. “Unfortunately, a growing number of New Jersey Democrats are moving left just to satisfy and appease the progressive base of their party.”  

Republicans emphasize that New Jersey voters deserve leaders focused on affordability, public safety, economic opportunity and responsible government, rather than ideological battles.

“While Democrats fight each other over who can be more extreme, Republicans are unwavering in their focus on lowering costs, making New Jersey more affordable and delivering results for the people who call the Garden State home,” Chairwoman Hanlon said. 

About the NJGOP

The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the official entity of the Republican National Committee and represents more than 1.6 million Republicans registered in New Jersey. For more information, visit NJGOP.org.

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