Dale Caldwell insisted on camera Friday that he resigned "to make a difference" rather than impede Gov. Mikie Sherrill, while directly disputing the findings of a sexual harassment and ethics probe that forced him from office. Caldwell’s departure came just one day after Democratic Gov.
Mikie Sherrill publicly called for his resignation following a months-long independent ethics investigation. The 61-page report described repeated ethics violations, including a "substantiated" finding of sexual harassment and repeated improper efforts to secure a state job promotion for a woman with whom he was romantically involved. Speaking on camera for the first time following his resignation, to a reporter outside his home, Caldwell slammed the state's investigative report as "specious," "ridiculous" and "poorly done," adding that he resigned to keep any "distraction" away from the Sherrill administration.
"I'm not resigning because of that ridiculous report," Caldwell said on camera. "I'm resigning because I don't want to be a distraction to the Mikie Sherrill Administration." HOUSE DEMOCRAT INVESTIGATED OVER ALLEGED 'INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL CONTACT' WITH STAFFER "If I'm going to impede anybody else's ability to be successful, then I can move on to something else," Caldwell added, citing his history as a university president and working at the Deloitte consulting firm. When pressed about the allegations in the report, Caldwell encouraged people to go read it for themselves but said he was only providing specifics through his attorney for now.
"I just think it was poorly done. I mean, I just think that there are ways that they could have done better. And, I was just disappointed in the legal, the legal work in that," Caldwell added.
GOP LAWMAKER'S GIFTS, 'EFFUSIVE AFFECTION' TOWARD YOUNG STAFFERS DETAILED IN EXPLOSIVE ETHICS REPORT Meanwhile, Caldwell mentioned that he spoke with Gov. Sherrill via text message on Friday, noting "she's a wonderful person" and "she really means well" but did not provide any more specifics on that conversation. "This is one of those things that happens.
And as I said, I'm going to continue to work as a private citizen. I'm freed up to do a lot more things. So I'm looking forward to supporting the administration and really supporting folks." According to the probe into Caldwell's behavior, conducted by an independent law firm hired by the state, now-former Lt.
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