Campaign staffer agreed to hear Centenary employee’s complaint about Lt. Governor, then ghosted her and blocked her

Key Points:

• A staffer for Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s 2025 campaign, Leslie Bockol, agreed to hear allegations from a Centenary University employee about a hostile work environment under former president Dale Caldwell but failed to appear for a scheduled call and subsequently blocked the employee.
• Dale Caldwell, now New Jersey’s lieutenant governor and secretary of state, is under investigation for allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women, potential ethics violations including offers of state employment, and questionable reimbursements and trips; former Attorney General Christopher Porrino is leading the probe.
• The investigation has been ongoing for at least two months and involves issues dating back five months, with the Sherrill campaign engaging counsel in September 2025 to review the matter after receiving initial correspondence.
• The Centenary University president, John Schol, has instructed staff not to speak to the media about the allegations, emphasizing the sensitive and evolving nature of the situation, while the university affirmed its commitment to the safety and professional conduct of its community.
• Sherrill’s campaign counsel stated the campaign acted appropriately and did not authorize Bockol’s independent engagement or blocking of the employee, and the investigation is being conducted by Porrino and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae Gray.