Negron on Wednesday appointed the Senate’s general counsel, Dawn Roberts, to serve as special master to conduct an inquiry into Artiles’ behavior and submit a report and possible recommendations for sanctions to the Rules Committee.
The Senate president ordered the investigation after Thurston, who serves as chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, filed a formal complaint seeking Artiles’ expulsion from the Senate.
“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 Friday’s resignation letter.
Artiles’ action Friday was a marked reversal from a stance taken less than a day earlier by his lawyer, Stephen R. Andrews. Andrews argued that the senator’s remarks were protected by the First Amendment and raised the specter of detailing similar comments by other senators if the matter were sent to the full chamber for a vote on possible sanctions.
In a statement issued Friday, Artiles attempted to make amends for his comments — which he acknowledged “were hurtful, unacceptable and inappropriate” — while at the same time accusing critics of making him a political target.
