Attorney General Jerry Brown's communications director, Scott Gerber, submitted his resignation Monday after admitting last week that he had secretly taped conversations with reporters.
In the letter to Chief Deputy Attorney General James Humes, Gerber said he was resigning "with a heavy heart" but emphasized that "neither the Attorney General nor any other attorneys from our office were aware that I was recording interviews without permission."
The questionable, perhaps illegal, behavior came to light after Gerber told the San Francisco Chronicle that one of its reporters had misquoted Humes based on Gerber's recording of the conversation between Humes and political writer Carla Marinucci.
Gerber had been placed on administrative leave after the Chronicle wrote about the incident Friday.
Recording private conversations without consent is illegal under California law.
The episode quickly emerged as an embarrassment for Brown, who is the sole Democratic hopeful in next year's governor's race.
Brown has yet to declare his candidacy. Gerber did not handle communications for Brown's political campaigns.
"I want to apologize to (Humes) and Attorney General Brown for failing to live up to the standards of the Office," Gerber wrote. "I also apologize to the reporters whose interviews I taped without permission. They deserved better from me."
Call Jack Chang, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5543.
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