The head of Oregon's liquor agency just resigned after he was accused of using his power to acquire rare fancy bourbon for himself

Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission Executive Director Steve Marks noted in his resignation letter that Gov. Tina Kotek asked him to step down. He said his resignation is effective at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The resignation letter to the OLCCs board of commissioners was first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The liquor officials told an internal investigator they were paying for the whiskey, which can cost thousands of dollars a bottle, but they are accused of using their knowledge and connections at the commission to obtain the products. Marks and the other officials denied they resold the whiskeys they obtained.

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on Friday announced a criminal investigation into the allegations that senior officials in the states alcohol and marijuana regulatory agency, which is the states third-largest revenue generator, violated ethics laws.

The funneling of the top-end whiskey to leaders of the state agency deprived well-heeled whiskey aficionados of the bourbons and violated several Oregon statutes, including one that prohibits public officials from using confidential information for personal gain, according to the commissions investigation.

The officials purportedly had very limited bottles of top-shelf bourbon routed to a liquor store, often in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie where the commission headquarters is located, and would reserve them for pickup later. They said they used the whiskey for personal consumption or as gifts.

During the OLCC internal probe, Marks denied that he had violated Oregon ethics laws and state policy. However, he acknowledged that he had received preferential treatment to some extent in obtaining the whiskey as a commission employee.

The board of commissioners is appointed by the governor and in turn selects the executive director, according to a commission spokesman. The commissioners next regular meeting is Wednesday.