Florida Senator Frank Artiles resigns after insults, racist remarks in bar
TALLAHASSEE - State Sen. Frank Artiles, a Miami Republican under fire for days after hurling insults and racist comments, resigned Friday in a dramatic end to the controversy over his behavior in a private Tallahassee club.
"My actions and my presence in government is now a distraction to my colleagues, the legislative process, and the citizens of our great state," Artiles wrote in a resignation letter to Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
"I am responsible and I am accountable and effective immediately, I am resigning from the Florida State Senate," Artiles wrote.
Gov. Rick Scott responded quickly to Artiles resignation Friday while visiting brush fires threatening Golden Gate Estates neighborhoods in Collier County.
"If he worked for me, I would have fired him," Scott said. "It's disgusting. If somebody does that stuff, you fire him immediately."
Black legislators in the House and Senate called for Artiles' expulsion after his Monday night tirade against African-American colleagues Sens. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, and Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale.
Artiles called Gibson a "bitch" and a "girl" and used the N-word in reference to some of his fellow Republicans.
"You shouldn't talk derogatorily about people like that. There should not be any racists comment," Scott said. "I talked to Sen. Gibson right after I heard about it and said I'm sorry that anyone would talk to her like that. She's a wonderful person. But nobody should be talked to like that."
Previous coverage of Frank Artiles
- Rep. Ramon Alexander: 'Deep concerns' about Sen. Frank Artiles
- Sen. Frank Artiles delivers Joe Negron his first crisis as Senate president
- Artiles wants to hunt snakes and lizards
State law requires Scott to schedule a special election to fill Artiles' seat. Until that happens, Artiles' staff will remain in place to serve constituents of Senate District 40, said Negron spokeswoman Katie Betta.
Artiles apologized on the Senate floor Wednesday for the comments he made in the bar of the private Governor's Club.
But that did not settle any outrage. Later that day, Thurston filed a formal complaint against Artiles with Negron, spurring a chamber investigation that was to conclude Tuesday.
Negron initially said Artiles' apology settled the matter and his fate would be decided by his constituents. Negron later stripped Artiles of his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities.
On Friday, he said Artiles made the right decision by resigning.
"As Senator Artiles has noted, he holds himself responsible and accountable for his actions and comments," Negron said in a statement. “Despite the events of the last week, Senator Artiles has a long and proud record of public service.
"We all owe him a debt of gratitude for serving our country in the United State Marine Corps, where he fought for our freedom in the Global War on Terror," Negron said.
Thurston on Friday withdrew his complaint against Artiles in response to his resignation. He wrote in a statement that while he respected Artiles' tough decision, he was proud of the lawmakers who stood to condemn him.
“The actions of this Senate, and those of the multitude of Floridians who stood up in objection to the events of this week are to be lauded," Thurston said. "They underscored the critical lesson that words can be painful, they can be hurtful, and they can have consequences.”
Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican in line to take over as Senate president, praised Artiles' announcement Friday.
"He made the right decision and in doing so put the interest of the Senate above those of his own," Galvano said.
Senate Democratic leader Oscar Braynon of Miami Gardens said Artiles made an honorable decision.
Related link: Coverage of the 2017 Florida Legislative Session
"I take no pleasure in these unfortunate events," Braynon wrote. "But I urge that we learn from them. In our communities, our state, and our country, there should be a message of hope, of tolerance, of unity.
"We cannot afford the high-cost words of divisiveness and cruelty leave in their wake.
“I wish Senator Artiles the best, and I hope that, upon reflection, he finds consolation in knowing that his actions today show the contrition demanded, and the Senate was owed," Braynon said.
Artiles was first elected to the House in 2010 and served there until 2016, when he won his Senate seat against Democratic incumbent Dwight Bullard.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said Friday that Artiles' resignation proved his devotion to the state.
"Frank Artiles is my friend, who served this nation honorably in the United States Marine Corps,” Corcoran said. “I sincerely hope that as Frank seeks forgiveness and absolution from those hurt by his words, he will be met with forgiveness and a second chance."
USAT TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA reporter Joseph Cranney contributed to this report from Naples.