The governor responded to the request to resign with a handwritten note to Louise Sullivan, a retired librarian in Cape Elizabeth.

In the note, he scolded her for living a region where people “exploit those who are not so fortunate” and ignore and welcome corruption. The note was posted on a website funded by the Maine People’s Alliance.

Maine Public Broadcasting Network says Sullivan declined comment other than to verify the handwritten note. She said she would have preferred the correspondence remain private.