One of the top Republicans on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce announced he'll be resigning next week ahead of his retirement.

Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., will retire effective Sept. 6 instead of serving out the remainder of his last term in the House. Whitfield announced that he would retire last year after the House Ethics Committee began investigating him.

In his letter to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, Whitfield kept his message short.

"It has been my honor and privilege to have represented the constituents of the First District of Kentucky in the United States Congress for the last almost 22 years," Whitfield wrote. "As you know, I did not seek re-election to Congress this year and have now decided to submit my resignation as the Congressman of the First District of Kentucky, effective 6 p.m., Tuesday, September 6, 2016."

"I have enjoyed serving with you and wish you and your administration the very best! This is the 29th day of August, 2016."

Whitfield has served in the House since 1995 and rose to become the chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power.

The ethics committee began investigating Whitfield in March 2015 due to allegations that he failed to prevent lobbying attempts between his staff and his wife, used his office to financially benefit himself or his wife, and gave special favors and privileges to his wife, the Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Humane Society of the United States.

The committee found Whitfield failed to prevent his wife from lobbying his staff and gave her special privileges, but did not use his office to further his own financial interest. He did not intend to violate the House's rules, the committee stated while issuing a formal rebuke.

A spokesman with the committee declined to comment on Whitfield's resignation and directed inquiries to a previous statement on his retirement.