Former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell says he resigned because he did not want the controversy surrounding an investigation into his conduct to distract from Gov. Mikie Sherrill's administration.

"I'm not resigning because of that ridiculous report. I'm resigning because I don't want to be a distraction to the Mikie Sherrill administration," Caldwell said in an interview outside his home.

Caldwell resigned Friday, one day after Sherrill called on him to step down following the release of an outside investigation into his conduct.

The investigation substantiated a violation of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace, finding that Caldwell's conduct toward a female staffer constituted sexual harassment. It also substantiated two ethics violations involving personal guests at ticketed events and Caldwell's efforts to secure a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.

Caldwell disputed the report in the interview and encouraged people to read it for themselves.

"I encourage everybody to read the report. I'm glad the report is out," Caldwell said. "There's certain accusations in there when you start to read the report you realize that, 'Wait, that's not an accusation.'"

Asked whether the allegations were untrue and what he believed had been left out, Caldwell declined to discuss specific findings, saying his attorney would address them.

The report found credible evidence that Caldwell made a romantic advance toward a female staffer's friend. After the advance was rebuffed, investigators found that Caldwell told the staffer, referring to her and her friend, "you young women are looking for young sperm."

Caldwell denied making the comment during the investigation. The report said investigators did not find his denial credible and concluded the remark constituted sexual harassment under the state's workplace policy.

The report also found Caldwell brought personal guests to ticketed events without advance ethics clearance or payment or reimbursement, and attempted on multiple occasions to secure a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.

When asked whether he felt targeted by the investigation, Caldwell criticized how it was conducted but did not say he had been targeted.

"I just think it was poorly done, it was poorly done," Caldwell said. "I just think that there are ways that they could have done better and I was just disappointed in the legal work in that."

Caldwell's attorney, Thomas Calcagni, has also disputed the investigation and its findings. Following Caldwell's resignation, Calcagni said his client resigned "to put an end to the targeted campaign to discredit his character" and said his legal team was exploring potential legal remedies.

Sherrill has defended the investigation, calling it "thorough and impartial." She said Friday that Caldwell submitted his resignation and that she accepted it.

Despite the dispute over the investigation, Caldwell spoke positively about Sherrill and said he plans to continue supporting her administration.

"I've met with Governor Sherrill a couple times, spoke with her and texted her today. She's a wonderful person, she really is and she really means well," Caldwell said. "And so this is one of those things that happens and as I've said I'm going to continue to work as a private citizen."

Caldwell also reflected on his eight months in office, saying he believes the administration can still be successful.

"I didn't come into politics for politics. I came in for politics to make a difference," Caldwell said. "And if I'm going to impede anybody else's ability to be successful, then I can move on to something else."