Jesse Benton, the GOP political strategist spearheading Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s reelection campaign, resigned from his post Friday amid new details about an ongoing federal investigation into an endorsement-pay-scheme involving a 2012 presidential campaign he oversaw.

In a statement issued Friday evening, Benton cited “inaccurate press accounts and unsubstantiated media rumors about me and my role in past campaigns that are politically motivated, unfair and, most importantly, untrue.”

“The press accounts and rumors are particularly hurtful because they are false,” Benton wrote. “However, what is most troubling to me is that they risk unfairly undermining and becoming a distraction to this reelection campaign.”

He said that “with a heavy heart” he offered his resignation to McConnell, who “reluctantly accepted.” His resignation was first reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Benton’s decision comes two days after former Iowa state senator Kent Sorenson pleaded guilty to two federal charges, admitting that he accepted concealed payments from the 2012 presidential campaigns of Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas to secure his endorsement. A top Paul campaign official, Dimitri Kesari, was involved in efforts to pay Sorenson for his support, according a state independent counsel investigation.

Benton, who is married to Paul’s granddaughter, served as chairman of the campaign. It is unclear if he knew about payments made to Sorenson, but emails published last year indicate he was involved in efforts to get him to defect from the Bachmann campaign.

Benton’s full statement is below: