The executive director of the S.C. Republican Party resigned Thursday, just hours after his indictment in Virginia on federal wiretapping charges.

The five-count indictment, handed down in Richmond, alleges Ed Matricardi, 34, tapped into conference calls last year among Democrats when he was executive director of the Virginia GOP.

Matricardi listened to, recorded, and disclosed information that was exchanged during a March 22 conference call among Democratic Virginia lawmakers, U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty said at a Richmond news conference.

Three days later, Matricardi listened in on a second conference call set up by the Virginia Democratic Party, he said.

Federal law prohibits intercepting telephone conversations without a court order or the consent of a party to the conversation.

If convicted, Matricardi faces up to 25 years in prison and $1.25 million in fines.

An outspoken and combative political operative, Matricardi referred all inquiries to his attorney before returning home to his wife and infant daughter in Richmond.

Stephen Benjamin, his Richmond attorney, said federal court rules barred him from commenting or expressing his opinion on the case.

Matricardi said last year that the phone calls were not private because the pass code was provided to him by a Democratic Party source. He also said the phone calls were public meetings under the definition of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican who was critical of Matricardi's hiring last year, declined comment Thursday.

"The governor believes that this is a matter for the Republican Party to handle and will support their decision," Sanford spokesman Will Folks said.

While running for governor, Sanford said Matricardi did not meet the "very high standards" to which Republicans should hold themselves.

Other Republican leaders had nothing but good things to say about Matricardi on Thursday.

GOP chairman Katon Dawson hired Matricardi in July on the recommendation of White House political director Karl Rove and the Republican National Committee. He praised his work on behalf of Republican candidates.

"With Ed's help and advice," Dawson said, "our party has had remarkable success not only at the ballot box, but also with building a grass-roots network of activists and helping us reach aggressive fund-raising goals."

House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said Matricardi "did a great job for the South Carolina Republican Party."

Democrats weren't as kind.

"It's hard to argue for campaign finance reform when the head of your party is under indictment," said Dick Harpootlian, chairman of the state Democratic Party.

Just Wednesday in his State of the State address, Sanford had asked lawmakers to send him legislation to reform campaign finance laws. On Tuesday, a task force Sanford appointed recommended sweeping campaign finance reforms.

House Democratic leader James Smith of Columbia gave Sanford credit for his earlier criticism of Matricardi's hiring.

"This certainly vindicates the governor's position," Smith said. "His judgment was correct."

State GOP communications director Luke Byars was named interim executive director. Dawson said party officials will discuss how to find a permanent director when they meet Feb. 15.

Matricardi had been indicted on state charges in Virginia last spring for eavesdropping on Democrats. That indictment was dropped in May in favor of the federal investigation.

Matricardi received the telephone number and the access codes for the conference calls via e-mail, according to the indictment. He then shared details of the Democrats' conversation with an official in the Virginia attorney general's office. That disclosure was then shared with the Virginia State Police.

Also Thursday, McNulty said a former aide to ex-Virginia House Speaker S. Vance Wilkins pleaded guilty to listening in on the March 22 conference call and sharing the information. Claudia Tucker was sentenced to one year probation and fined $1,000.

The case against Matricardi involves an important public interest, McNulty said.

"Americans are increasingly relying on the telephone in nearly every facet of life, from a cell phone call to a baby-sitter, to a conference call among dozens of people. The public must have confidence that their conversations on the telephone are secure."