Changes

|term_end2=January 2008

|term_end2=January 2008

|preceded2=

|preceded2=

|succeeded2=James E. Paxton

|succeeded2=[[James E. Paxton]]

|residence=Tallulah, Madison Parish

|residence=Tallulah, Madison Parish

}}

}}

Amid the divorce proceedings, Caldwell dropped a bid for lieutenant governor that year on the grounds that his position as district attorney would not allow him time to campaign. The lieutenant governorship was instead won by eventual Louisiana Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]] of [[Lafayette]].[20]

Amid the divorce proceedings, Caldwell dropped a bid for lieutenant governor that year on the grounds that his position as district attorney would not allow him time to campaign. The lieutenant governorship was instead won by eventual Louisiana Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]] of [[Lafayette]].[20]

Caldwell married a third time. He and Pat M. Caldwell have a combined seven grown children and six grandchildren.[5] During his service as attorney general, Caldwell was one of two statewide elected officials in Louisiana who are [[Jewish]].[21] The other was John L. "Jay" Dardenne, the current commissioner of administration under Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]], who was the departing lieutenant governor and former Secretary of State and state senator from Baton Rouge. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2015.

Caldwell married a third time. He and Pat M. Caldwell have a combined seven grown children and six grandchildren.[5] During his service as attorney general, Caldwell was one of two statewide elected officials in Louisiana who are [[Jewish]].[21] The other was John L. "Jay" Dardenne, the current commissioner of administration under Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]], who was the departing lieutenant governor and former Secretary of State and state senator from Baton Rouge. Dardenne ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2015.

==Challenges to Caldwell's record==

==Challenges to Caldwell's record==

Former Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle of Baton Rouge was a leading critic of Caldwell's state attorney general candidacy. Kyle reported that in 1997 Caldwell "spent $1,529 in D.A. office funds to pay for personal items, including clothing and golfing expenses."[22] The expenses included air fare to [[Montana]] and [[golf]] fees in [[Alabama]].[23] (Kyle ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for insurance commissioner in 2003.)

Former Legislative Auditor [[Dan Kyle]] of Baton Rouge was a leading critic of Caldwell's state attorney general candidacy. Kyle reported that in 1997 Caldwell "spent $1,529 in D.A. office funds to pay for personal items, including clothing and golfing expenses."[22] The expenses included air fare to [[Montana]] and [[golf]] fees in [[Alabama]].[23] (Kyle ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for insurance commissioner in 2003.)

According to ''The Baton Rouge Advocate'' in 2000, Kyle claimed that Caldwell tried "to quash release of parts of the audit... and used foul language and threats in an unsuccessful attempt to block the audit." Kyle said that Caldwell had blamed his own secretary for the questionable spending: "Caldwell also said the spending problem in the 1997 audit was a mistake by his secretary which he personally brought it to the auditor's attention."[24] In Committee Room 3, during a legislative probe, Kyle testified against Caldwell. Kyle claimed that he had heard from Caldwell:

According to ''The Baton Rouge Advocate'' in 2000, Kyle claimed that Caldwell tried "to quash release of parts of the audit... and used foul language and threats in an unsuccessful attempt to block the audit." Kyle said that Caldwell had blamed his own secretary for the questionable spending: "Caldwell also said the spending problem in the 1997 audit was a mistake by his secretary which he personally brought it to the auditor's attention."[24] In Committee Room 3, during a legislative probe, Kyle testified against Caldwell. Kyle claimed that he had heard from Caldwell: