Nebraska Lt. Gov. Sheehy quits after revelation of 2,000 improper late-night calls

Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy (R) resigned on Saturday morning after a newspaper investigation revealed that he had made thousands of late-night phone calls to women who were not his wife over a four-year period.

The Omaha World-Herald reported that Sheehy made around 2,000 such calls on his state-issued cellular phone over the past four years to four women.

Gov. Dave Heineman (R) announced Sheehy's resignation Saturday morning but did not elaborate on the details, instead saying that it involved "personal decisions" made by Sheehy. Heineman said the two men met on Friday to discuss the issue before Sheehy handed in a terse resignation letter a day later.

"I hereby resign the Office of Lieutenant Governor of the State of Nebraska effective immediately," Sheehy said in his letter, according to Newsy. "It has been a privilege to serve you and the great people of our State [sic] as Lieutenant Governor."

The newspaper also reported that Sheehy's wife, Connie Sheehy, filed for divorce last July, saying their 29-year-marriage was "irretrievably broken."

Heineman said he did not object to the newspaper's investigation into Sheehy's cell phone use.

"I believe in our public records and transparency in government," he said. "We as government officials live in a very public arena, and that's the way it should be. I believe in transparency."

Sheehy, who served as eight years, was considered the top contender to succeed Heineman. But Heineman said Saturday that he doubted his former running mate would now pursue the office of governor, and that he would not support him if he did.

"I've got a knot in my stomach. I'm deeply disappointed," Heineman said. "He's done a lot of good things for the state, but that trust was broken, and he's resigned."

Watch video from Heineman's statement, posted on Saturday, below.

[Image by Steve White via Flickr Creative Commons]