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Nati Harnik / Associated Press photo
Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy resigned Saturday. Last July, his wife filed for divorce after nearly 29 years of marriage. Her divorce filing stated the "marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken."
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy resigned abruptly Saturday in a scandal involving thousands of calls to four women on his state-issued cellphone, including one woman who said she had a romantic relationship with the politician.
Gov. Dave Heineman announced Sheehy's resignation in a hastily called news conference Saturday morning. Sheehy, a Republican, had been considered the front-runner in the 2014 gubernatorial race and had been endorsed by Heineman.
"As public officials, we are rightly held to a higher standard," Heineman said. "I had trusted him, and that trust was broken."
Sheehy resigned after questions were raised about the cellphone calls with four women, none of whom were his wife, who filed for divorce last year. The calls, made over the last four years, were first reported by the Omaha World-Herald, which had made a public records request for Sheehy's phone records.
Records released Saturday by the governor's office show Sheehy made thousands of late-night phone calls to the women. He spoke with some of the women numerous times a day in conversations that lasted anywhere from a few minutes to more than an hour, according to the records.
One woman he frequently called, Dr. Theresa Hatcher of Bellevue, told The Associated Press that she and Sheehy had maintained a long-term relationship after they met at a convention of emergency responders in Texas in 2008. As lieutenant governor, Sheehy leads the state's emergency management efforts, and Hatcher is an emergency room doctor.
"I thought I was the only one," she said. "Apparently, I was grossly mistaken."
Hatcher said she last talked to Sheehy about two weeks ago. She added: "Politicians can lie. Doctors don't lie."
Another woman Sheehy frequently called has had an apartment in Lincoln, the state capital. Her name appeared on a call box outside the building Saturday, but a man who answered the door said she didn't live there.
'Deeply disappointed'
Sheehy was the mayor of Hastings before Heineman selected him as his running mate. They were elected by a record margin to their first full term in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.
Asked for his reaction Saturday, Heineman said, "I've got a knot in my stomach. I'm deeply disappointed."
Heineman said he doubted Sheehy would run for the governor's office now.
"And no, I would not support him under the circumstances," Heineman said.
Sheehy did not appear at the news conference, and his state-issued cellphone was disconnected. A phone call to Sheehy's office went unanswered, and a message was not immediately returned.
Last July, Sheehy's wife, Connie Sheehy, filed for divorce after nearly 29 years of marriage. Her divorce filing stated the "marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken."
Heineman declined to answer questions about what had occurred that led Sheehy to resign. He also would not say whether he asked Sheehy to resign or if Sheehy acted on his own.
Heineman said he will begin the process Monday of looking for a new lieutenant governor.
If something were to happen to Heineman before he selects a new lieutenant governor, Republican Speaker of the Legislature Greg Adams would ascend to the governor's post.
Sheehy's announcement shakes up an already turbulent 2014 governor's race. Another Republican candidate, former Nebraska Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood, entered the race briefly but withdrew in December after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. State Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont, a Republican, has also said he is leaning toward running.
Several Democrats have signaled an interest in running, including University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook and Nebraska state Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha. In recent weeks, party activists have also approached state Sen. Annette Dubas, of Fullerton.
Sheehy changed his Twitter account settings to private before Heineman's press conference. Shortly after, his account appeared to have been deleted.
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ONCE AGAIN we confuse personal and private lives. Who the hell cares if this guy (even if he is a Republican) who he has been talking to? Even if it was his business phone? Politicians are always 'held to a higher standard' but why? They have the same weaknesses as anyone else and should not be judged on something that does not affect their job or is not illegal. Why are we so quick to judge and so slow to forgive in this country?????? I am surprised anyone would WANT to run for public office in this country - the sound of cracking egg shells would drive you crazy!
Hmm, so he does the morally right thing in resigning . CLinton lies under oath in front of Congress and gets re-elected. Guess, morals and ethics are not "lib thing".
The (bogus, politically motivated) impeachment came in his second term, dumbazz.
So he had political motivation to LIE UNDER OATH to Congress ?
Whenever a republican is caught,they usually resign.When a democrat is caught they usually are promoted to a higher position in either the senate or house.What about LBJ who would carouse around Washington DC with his girlfriends when he was a representative,senator and president.Openly embarrassing his wife,who for some reason just sat back and let things continue to go the way that turd wanted them to go.LBJ was a crook before he got into office and spent his entire time in office acquiring wealth using his power in the senate,house and wHite House.Of course,all the property was put into his wifes' name so as not to look suspicious.Too many dimocrap to review in in comment section.
Ummm maso, Gov. Sanford REFUSED to step down after his affair with a S. American was found out. Anti-gay GOP Rep. Hinkle REFUSED to step down after Craigslist scandal, Sen. Vitter REFUSED to step down after being involved with a prostitution ring, Sen. John Ensign REFUSED to step down after an affair with the wife of a staffer. You must be getting your funny paper sources from Mr. Felon himself, Darrell Issa, eh?
"I thought I was the only one," she said. "Apparently, I was grossly mistaken."
LOL. She knows he's cheating on his wife, yet the thought he would cheat on her too is totally shocking to the good doctor.
Libs and Progressives LOVE when Reps have this kind of scandal.... Oh yes, the so-called Moral party is immoral again....Problem is, there is never Tit-for-Tat with Libs and Progressives in this topic. You can't shame people who have no morals to begin with.
Yes, some are all going to look back at this 40years from now and with their Labrador retriever wives, their Clydesdale husbands or their multiple human partners (all on public medical assistance) they might say were were all so backwards.
Long live Liberalism!!!!! Then wonder why this world is so screwed up.
Ah, yes, those legendary conservative morals - starting wars, racism, welfare to the rich and cutting welfare to the poor.
The media needed to come out with a republican scandel after Menendez a democrat was found going to foreign countries to have sex with under age girls. May they all rot in hell.
Dale R. Get your facts straight.............A. Lincoln was a Repub, A.Jackson who repressed and persecuted minorities was Dem, Barry Goldwater and the Repub Congress pushed to Civil Rights Bill against LBJ (Dem). All major wars were started with Dem. Presidents... Billions and Billions of Dollars have been committed towards the poor since 1960's(under Dems) and there are more "Poor now than ever. T. Roosevelt did more for Unions and Middle class than any Pres since,He was Repub.
There is good and bad everywhere!
Maybe you should get your info from places other than MS/NBC, the Daily Report, Bill Maher and PBS.
He wanted to be President and thought that if he followed the example of Bill Clinton he would make it. But alas he is still a Politican and sucking on Taxpayer Dollars as much as possible
Red state, red face typical right wing moralist behaving badly.
Give it a break...last year it was Anthony Wiener, this year its this jerk, next year it could be an independent. The bottom line is, there are idiots on all corners. You morons who want to bash the republicans should take a closer look. You republicans should not waste your time trying to defend this. The idiot got caught and is now unemployed.
Thousands of phone calls....sheesh!!
Oooohhh....the moral, holier than thou Republicans don't think this is a big deal. After all, look what Bill Clinton did. Get a clue....Bill Clinton and the Democratic Party don't go around preaching how everyone should live their lives.
So why did my tax go up? To pay for wine, women and song.
Sneaking around with 4 girl friends when did he have time to do some work for the tax payers that pay for that phone, car, office, trips, etc etc etc. Gotta love all these moochers of the public entitlements. A block of cheese to the welfair mom ain't the problem here guys. Its the elite that run our goverment that are milking the tax payer.
Disgusting. There is not one single honest politician out there!!!!!
I hope no one in this country is surprised by this now. We all know our government is corrupt. But at least the guy wasn't using the oval office to hook up with his girl on the side. Now about this doctor, She thought she was the only one? Really! I would think she would look smarter if she said, yeah it was fun. Come on guys didn't she really start that line out by saying, she was stupid to think she was the only one?
Why are people making this a political party issue? Is this what our nation has become? An individual made some bad choices concerning his sex life and to label all republicans as sexual immoral is simply ignorant. It would appear the majority of people in this country care less about the economy, the runaway spending by our federal government and a no-budget president in his second term. This is more of a disgrace than some man that is going through a divorce and having sex with other women. What are you going to do when our nation collapses from mismanagement of our tax dollars? I guess you will blame Bush that Obama has no budget and is spending money he does not have to appease the liberals. I guess it is Bushes fault the pipe line was delayed another six months too; killing American jobs. This mentality of placing blame on others is just evidence of someone that is insecure and not capable of making sound decisions o their own. No personal responsibility collective guilt is not the answer!
Legalgirl is right: the majority or all politicians are dishonest & only looking out for their self interests. It doesn't matter if he was Republican or Democrat. The fact is most people condemn him because he does belong to the party that preaches family values & that discriminates against anyone that doesn't believe, look or think as it does: (i.e.: gays, minorities, pro-choice etc). Because of their extreme views & the high loft they've positioned themselves in, when they fall, they fall hard. It's hypocrisy at it's worst or best.
More Republicans for the "sanctity of marriage". Right? Right?
Another two-faced conservative elected on his strong morals and family-values. What a bunch of creeps and hypocrites.
He couldn't afford a Tracfone for $79.99 for 1 year service and 900 minutes of talk time????????
Another right-wing, hypocritical, evangelical, family values, sack of garbage, bites the dust. There is no end to the hypocrisy and immorality of the Stupid Party.
I have noticed that the Stupid party does not mention family values anymore. Now, why would that be, any ideas?
People say all christian are hypocrites. But God already said that. That's why he forgives their sins. Because they do have it in their heart to try and be that person. Even after he told them they would fail. If the speed limit is 55 people do 70. If it's 35 they may do 45 or 50. If their were no speed limits you couldn't walk on any road.
If he were a Democrat the hypocritical party hierarchy would be offended that anyone would be questioning his morality and say that his private life does not reflect his character. They would say (and MSNBC's bobble-head news hosts would parrot wholeheartedly) that we should forgive him, even though he is not really sorry, and demand that the public should immediately forget about it. They would question why anyone would even question his actions. No one in their party would. The Democrats have become an amoral party and would welcome this guy; and celebrate his behavior and values with open arms. Deceiving people is no big deal. In fact, it is a talent to be admired and cultivated in politics.
Party affiliation aside...this man was soliciting 4 woman with a Government assigned phone...he is the picture of a typical politician.
If that is Hatcher's truth, then that doctor must be mistaken again while she tells her delusional truth.
Hatcher probably has several other boyfriends.
so he was cheating on his wife with you, and you held on to the fantasy you were the only one?
duh?