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.