00:00Good afternoon. I want to take a few minutes today to speak directly to you, the people of New Jersey.
00:10As many of you have heard me say, I hold the Office of Public Service in incredibly high regard.
00:19Public service, holding the public trust, is a privilege, not a right.
00:25I feel deeply that it is a commitment by elected officials to serve the people, not their own self-interest.
00:35To honor that commitment, public servants must abide by the highest ethical standards.
00:44Those standards apply to everyone, regardless of their title.
00:49Yesterday, I called for Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell to resign, following the release of the independent investigation into his conduct.
01:00As outlined in the report, the investigation found that the Lieutenant Governor failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office,
01:08and he demonstrated a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this administration.
01:14The report document's serious, repeated violations of state policy, including ethical lapses and a substantiated finding of sexual harassment.
01:26I gave the Lieutenant Governor until today to resign.
01:30He submitted his resignation to me this afternoon, which I accepted.
01:35I appreciate his service, both on the campaign and in the first months of this administration, particularly in supporting our
01:43business agenda.
01:45Lieutenant Governor Caldwell has also been deeply committed to addressing the longstanding challenges facing black communities across our state.
01:53I share in that commitment my administration will continue this important work
01:58and remain steadfast in our efforts to expand opportunity for all New Jerseyans.
02:04His decision will allow us to move forward with important work serving the people of our state.
02:10Today, I want to share more about the investigative process and the path forward.
02:16As a former federal prosecutor, I wanted to make sure everyone was treated fairly and justly.
02:23This investigation was thorough and it was impartial.
02:26It was initiated by the chief ethics officer and conducted by a respected former state attorney general.
02:33It fully examined the evidence and followed the facts wherever they led.
02:38And it protected privacy because everyone deserves the right to be heard.
02:44After I received the report and the facts were clear, I took action right away.
02:49Let me be clear.
02:51All credible allegations of misconduct must be fully investigated and addressed.
02:57In my administration, we are committed to doing what is right, not what is politically expedient.
03:04I will move swiftly and thoughtfully in choosing a new lieutenant governor who will represent my administration
03:10and the people of New Jersey with honor and integrity.
03:15As you know, we are just 39 days away from the midterm elections.
03:21It is of paramount importance that our elections run smoothly and that New Jerseyans have confidence in the officials overseeing
03:28them.
03:29To that end, I have named Acting Comptroller Shirley Amihelu, who is here with me today to serve as Acting
03:36Secretary of State.
03:38Shirley is a veteran of the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.
03:44She has the judgment to run these elections and the strength to stand up to Trump's attacks on voting.
03:52I have full faith that Shirley and the team at the Department of State will make sure all eligible New
03:57Jerseyans can make their voices heard this November.
04:00Our state's public servants set the national standard.
04:04They work incredibly hard every day to deliver for you.
04:08As governor, I'm focused on protecting and empowering them so that they can help even more New Jerseyans.
04:14That is requiring a culture change in Trenton.
04:18We can no longer tolerate the culture of silence, sweeping things under the rug or kicking cans down the road.
04:25New Jerseyans deserve fairness and they deserve accountability.
04:29And we will work every single day to earn your trust.
04:33I've taken many oaths over the course of my lifetime of service in the Navy, as a federal prosecutor, in
04:40Congress, and now as governor.
04:42I take those commitments incredibly seriously.
04:47So here is my oath to you.
04:49I will uphold the law.
04:51I will do so with integrity.
04:53And I will always put your interests first.
04:56With that, I'll turn things over to Shirley Amihelu.
05:03Subscribe to OneIndia and never miss an update.
05:07Download the OneIndia app now.
