Joshua Malcolm, caught up in controversy after he helped expose an election scandal with national implications, has abruptly resigned from his post as general counsel of the University of North Carolina Pembroke.

Neither Malcolm nor the university gave a reason, but the resignation comes amid a high-profile public records suit over communications Malcolm had on university devices related to the election while Malcolm also served on the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Malcolm has said there is no relationship between his resignation and the lawsuit.