Florida senator quits over slur

GOP legislator’s remarks to black peers vulgar, bigoted

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida state senator who used a racial slur and vulgar language in a conversation with two black colleagues resigned Friday, saying the incident is causing a distraction to the legislative process.

Frank Artiles, a Republican, submitted a resignation letter to Republican Senate President Joe Negron and issued a separate statement.

“I clearly made comments that were hurtful, unacceptable and inappropriate. The American people and Floridians want their leaders to be accountable and responsible, and by resigning my elected office I believe I am demonstrating those qualities they desire and deserve,” Artiles said in the statement released by a publicist.

Negron said the resignation was the right thing to do, and he dropped an investigation into the matter.

“All of us are accountable for our actions and our comments, so I think it’s an appropriate resignation,” Negron said.

The Florida Legislative Black Caucus filed a complaint about the comments Wednesday and asked that Artiles be removed from office.

The matter began Monday night during a private conversation with state Sens. Audrey Gibson and Perry Thurston at the Governors Club, a members-only establishment near the Capitol. Artiles used vulgarities in talking with Gibson, including one particularly offensive to women. Thurston intervened, and Artiles used a variation of the “n-word” and used a vulgarity to describe Negron, according to the complaint filed Wednesday by Thurston.

Artiles, a Cuban-American from the Miami area, apologized for the comments on the Senate floor on Wednesday, but Democrats said that wasn’t enough.

Democratic Senate Leader Oscar Braynon, who is black, issued a statement saying Artiles did the right thing by resigning.

“I take no pleasure in these unfortunate events. But I urge that we learn from them,” Braynon said. “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.”

Artiles won his seat in November in a district that’s politically competitive. He previously served in the state House from 2010 to 2016. His resignation gives Democrats a chance to gain a seat in the chamber, though Republicans still have a 24-15 majority even with his resignation.

“While I take full responsibility for using language that was vulgar and inappropriate, my family has fallen victim to a political process that can distort the truth for the sole purpose of political gain,” Artiles said.

Gov. Rick Scott will have to set a date for a special election to replace him.