Rick Sheehy scandal: Nebraska Lt. Gov resigns after it's revealed he made THOUSANDS of improper late-night calls to women from his work cellphone

Nebraska's Lieutenant Goveor has issued a shock resignation after it emerged he had made thousands of improper calls to women late at night on his state-issued cellphone.

Rick Sheehy's departure this moing came after the Omaha World-Herald quizzed him on public records showing he'd made about 2,000 improper calls to four women who were not his wife over the past four years.

Gov. Dave Heineman said, in a hastily called news conference, that he was 'deeply disappointed' by the revelations about the 53-year-old who he was grooming to succeed him in office.

'I've got a knot in my stomach. I'm deeply disappointed,' he said.

He confirmed Sheehy's resignation followed disclosures made in a public records request but declined to discuss what those disclosures were.

But he said the move to step down involved 'personal decisions' made by his lieutenant goveor. 

'I had trusted him, and that trust was broken,' Heineman said, adding, 'this has happened very, very rapidly.'

It is unclear what the nature of the calls was or who the women were. The World-Herald said many of the calls were long conversations held in the early hours.

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.'

Frontrunner: Sheehy, pictured second from left with his wife and children, was the frontrunner to be the next goveor

Scandal: The Omaha World-Herald revealed Sheehy had made thousands of improper calls to women other than his wife on his work phone

Sheehy, a Republican, had been considered the front-runner in the 2014 gubeatorial race and had been endorsed by Heineman. He has been traveling throughout the state, making speeches and holding public events.

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.

Heineman said he doubted Sheehy would run for the goveor's office now. 'And no, I would not support him under the circumstances,' Heineman said.

Sheehy did not appear at the news conference, and Heineman declined to answer questions about what had occurred that led Sheehy to resign.

'You'll have to ask him about that,' Heineman told reporters. Sheehy's office failed to answer calls from the Associated Press.

The goveor would not say whether he asked Sheehy to resign or if Sheehy acted on his own. But he said: 'As public officials, we're held to a higher standard. Rightly so.'

Heineman said he will begin the process Monday of looking for a new lieutenant goveor, and will appoint someone in the coming weeks.

If something were to happen to Heineman before he selects a new lieutenant goveor, Speaker of the Legislature Greg Adams would ascend to the goveor's post.

Sheehy's announcement shakes up an already turbulent 2014 goveor'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.

Trust is broken: Goveor Dave Heineman, pictured at a press conference today, said he was 'deeply disappointed'

Several Democratic candidates have signaled an interest in running, a list that includes 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.

'We're going to have a very strong candidate in 2014,' said Vince Powers, chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party.

'This doesn't change anything, other than it really demonstrates that when you have one party in power for too long, arrogance and corruption and scandal follow it. It doesn't matter if it's Democrats in power or Republicans in power.'

In an email to the Associated Press, Hassebrook said he is 'taking a hard look' at running for goveor in 2014.

'I recognize that no human is without failing. So I wish Rick Sheehy and his family the best as they seek to heal from this disappointing episode,' he said.

Sheehy changed his Twitter account settings to private before Heineman's press conference. Shortly after, his account appeared to have been deleted.