Feb. 2, 2013 (Reuters) — Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy, the leading candidate to replace the current governor in the next election, resigned on Saturday after a newspaper investigation raised questions about improper cell phone calls made to women.
The Omaha World-Herald investigation found that the 53-year-old Republican made about 2,000 late-night calls to four women, other than his wife, on his state-issued cell phone over four years. The newspaper plans to publish results of the investigation on Sunday.
Colleen Sheehy, his wife of 28 years, filed for divorce in July 2012, according to the newspaper.
Governor Dave Heineman announced the resignation of Sheehy, a rising star in state politics, at a news conference. The governor said he was "deeply disappointed" and that Sheehy had done good work, but "trust was broken."
"Public officials are rightly held to a higher standard," Heineman said at the news conference, provided on the Omaha World-Herald website.