(Richmond, Virginia-AP) Jan. 23, 2003 - The operations director of the South Carolina Republican party has resigned after being indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia for allegations while he was executive director of the Virginia Republican Party.

Edmund Matricardi III is indicted on five charges related to allegations that he listened in on a Democratic conference call involving Democratic members of the Virginia General Assembly last year.

Matricardi was hired in July as operations director of the South Carolina Republican Party.

US Attorney Paul McNulty says Matricardi's indictment follows the conviction Wednesday of Claudia Tucker, a former aide to former Virginia House Speaker Vance Wilkins. She pleaded guilty in US District Court to a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $1000.

Matricardi is accused of violating the federal Wiretap Act. He's charged with two counts of unlawful interception of a wire communication, two counts of unlawful disclosure of intercepted wire communications and one count of aiding and abetting the interception of a wire communication. Each of the five counts carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Matricardi met with officials at the GOP headquarters in Columbia Thursday. Matricardi and South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson would not comment on the indictments. Republican Governor Mark Sanford says he supports any decision the party makes regarding Matricardi. Sanford had concerns when Dawson hired Matricardi last spring.

The GOP's interim executive director, Luke Byars, will take on most of Matricardi's duties.

updated 3:21pm by Chris Rees