United Methodist Church investigating complaint against former Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell

Key Points:

• The United Methodist Church has launched an investigation into an unspecified complaint against former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, shortly after his resignation amid a separate state probe into sexual harassment and ethics violations.
• Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi announced the complaint in a letter but did not reveal details about the nature of the allegations or their connection to Caldwell’s recent resignation.
• Caldwell, who is also a pastor at Covenant United Methodist Church, returned to preaching shortly after stepping down and disputed the findings of the state investigation, denying sexual harassment and ethical breaches.
• The state investigation, led by former Attorney General Christopher Porrino, found Caldwell sexually harassed a female staffer and violated ethics rules by misusing tickets and promoting a romantic partner without disclosure.
• The United Methodist Church’s inquiry represents a separate disciplinary process for Caldwell’s ministerial role, with no current information on potential outcomes or his status as pastor during the review.