Oregon Gov. Kitzhaber announces his resignation amid scandal

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2014, file photo, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber speaks during a gubernatorial debate in Portland, Ore. As an ethics controversy heats up around Kitzhaber, the person who would be next in line if he resigns is abruptly returning from a conference in Washington, D.C. It was not clear whether the unscheduled return Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, of Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has anything to do with influence-peddling allegations surrounding Kitzhaber’s fiancee, Cylvia Hayes. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File) FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2014, file photo, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber speaks during a gubernatorial debate in Portland, Ore. As an ethics controversy heats up around Kitzhaber, the person who would be next in line if he resigns is abruptly returning from a conference in Washington, D.C. It was not clear whether the unscheduled return Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, of Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has anything to do with influence-peddling allegations surrounding Kitzhaber’s fiancee, Cylvia Hayes. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

By Associated Press February 13, 2015 5 min read

JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Long-time Democratic Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber on Friday announced his resignation amid allegations his fiancee used her relationship with him to enrich herself.

In a lengthy statement released Wednesday, Kitzhaber said he broke no laws and said his resignation would be effective on Wednesday.

“Nonetheless, I understand that I have become a liability to the very institutions and policies to which I have dedicated my career and, indeed, my entire adult life,” he said.

The decision capped a wild week in which Kitzhaber seemed poised to step down, then changed his mind, but ultimately bowed to calls from legislative leaders that he quit the state’s top job.