Attorney General Mike Hunter has announced he will be stepping down as Oklahoma’s attorney general effective June 1.

“It has been a distinct and absolute privilege of a lifetime to serve as the state’s attorney general,” Attorney General Hunter said. “Regrettably, certain personal matters that are becoming public will become a distraction for this office. The office of attorney general is one of the most important positions in state government. I cannot allow a personal issue to overshadow the vital work the attorneys, agents and support staff do on behalf of Oklahomans.

“I thank those who entrusted me to fulfill this role and I am very sorry that I will no longer be here. I also extend a very heartfelt appreciation for those employees who chose public service and to work for the office. The employees in the Attorney General’s Office are dedicated, driven and go to bed every night and wake up every morning with the safety of Oklahomans as their magnetic north. I truly appreciate everything they do.”

Hunter announced his resignation on Wednesday, less than a week after filing for divorce from his wife, Cheryl. According to a news release, Hunter’s resignation letter will be available at a later date.

Hunter was elected as Oklahoma’s eighteenth attorney general on Nov. 6, 2018. Shortly after taking office, he formed the Oklahoma Commission on Opioid Abuse and also filed a lawsuit on the nation’s leading opioid manufacturers.

Hunter received his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University, making him the state’s first attorney general to receive an undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State. He grew up on a family farm in Garfield County, south of Enid, where he graduated from Pioneer High School.