Nebraska lieutenant governor quits amidst questions over calls

Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy (R) abruptly resigned from his position Saturday amidst questions about improper phone calls with several women.

Gov. Dave Heineman (R) announced the resignation at a press conference. While he did not refer to anything specific, he said Sheehy resigned after “a trust was broken,” according to the Omaha World-Herald.

“Public officials are rightly held to a higher standard. We take our public trust very seriously,” he said. “Late yesterday, I became aware of new information regarding the lieutenant governor’s personal decisions and subsequently had a conversation with him.”

{mosads}Heineman said he accepted Sheehy’s resignation, and now was focusing on finding his replacement.

“He’s resigned. I’ve accepted it, and we’re moving forward,” he said.

Beyond that, Heineman declined to weigh in on specifics, saying those questions were best directed to Sheehy.

The World-Herald said Sheehy resigned after the publication raised questions about “thousands” of late-night phone calls he made to four women who were not his wife on his state-issued cell phone over the last four years.

Sheehy and his wife of nearly 29 years filed for divorce last July, and filings indicated the “marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken,” according to the Associated Press.

Heineman said Sheehy resigned after disclosures from a public records request, but did not specify what those records revealed.

Sheehy had been thought to be the front-runner in Nebraska’s 2014 gubernatorial race, and had received Heineman’s endorsement.

But now, Heineman said he would not back Sheehy’s candidacy.

“I doubt he will continue his campaign for governor, and no, I would not support him under the circumstances,” he said.

Sheehy’s office did not respond to a request for comment.