Valentino Digiorgio.

Val DiGiorgio stepped down from his position as chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, effective immediately, following a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer in which he was accused of sending inappropriate messages, including an explicit photo, to a former Philadelphia City Council candidate.

DiGiorgio, who contested what he called “gross mischaracterizations” in the report, is a partner at Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, a Philadelphia-based midsize law firm. He is co-chair of the firm's banking and public finance practices, according to Stradley Ronon's website.

Asked Tuesday for comment on DiGiorgio's party resignation, and whether there will be any change in his position at the firm, a spokesman for Stradley Ronon provided the following statement from chairman Bill Sasso: “While unfortunate, this matter has nothing to do with either the firm or its clients.”

According to the Inquirer, Irina Goldstein, who unsuccessfully sought a Republican seat on the city council earlier this year, provided the newspaper more than 150 pages of messages that she and DiGiorgio exchanged between October and February. The newspaper published a story Tuesday detailing an exchange between the two that started with flirtation and became explicit.

Hours later, DiGiorgio resigned from party leadership.

The state GOP released DiGiorgio's resignation letter Tuesday, along with an announcement that vice chairman Bernadette Comfort will be taking over as acting chairman, in accordance with the party's rules.

In his letter, DiGiorgio said: “A recent media report contains gross mischaracterizations of mutual consensual communications between myself and a former primary candidate.”

He added, “My resignation should in no way be confused as confirmation of these mischaracterizations. I intend to rigorously defend myself against these assertions and protect my family, my colleagues and the party from this private matter.”

Comfort wished DiGiorgio well in her own statement, and said the state committee will elect a new chair.

The GOP's announcement of DiGiorgio's resignation touted his accomplishments as chairman, and said he “leaves the state party stronger than when he was elected as chairman and poised for future victories in 2019 and 2020.” Other than including an image of DiGiorgio's resignation letter, quoted above, the GOP's announcement made no mention of the Inquirer's article or the allegations it described.