LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Tony Goins has resigned his position, effective immediately.

Gov. Jim Pillen announced via email Wednesday that he had accepted Goins' resignation, stating that his office would have "further communication concerning future leadership for the Department of Economic Development in due course."

The news comes after a pair of pieces by the Nebraska Examiner about Goins and his a cigar lounge in which is he a majority owner.

Capital Cigar Lounge in Lincoln received a pair of grants during the COVID-19 pandemic from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the organization Goins oversaw. According to Nebraska Examiner, Goins had not filed a conflict of interest statement.

Gov. Jim Pillen reappointed Goins, who had previously served under former governor Pete Ricketts since 2019, to his position in November. Through a spokesperson, Pillen told the Nebraska Examiner Tuesday night that he “takes these reports extremely seriously and expects the utmost integrity from all members of his cabinet.”

Nebraska state law bars state agency directors from taking a profit from another business, except for service on a corporation board.

The law also prohibits state officials from using their position in a way that leads to financial benefit for themselves, an immediate family member or a “business with which he or she is associated.”

That followed another Nebraska Examiner article in which Goins was accused of using his state email to promote a campaign even for Suzanne Geist at the same cigar lounge.

The news of Goins' departure follows the previous exit of the department's deputy director, Dan Curran.