Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, called Artiles’ move “not only the right decision, but the honorable one.”
Senate GOP leaders publicly denied that Artiles’ fellow Republicans had pressured the former state representative to step down, even as public demands for his ouster intensified.
“The situation is regretful, however I think he did the right thing in resigning and putting his interest beneath that of the Senate,” Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican slated to take over as president of the chamber in November 2018, told the News Service.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran praised Artiles’ Marine service and dedication to his family. Artiles served six years in the House before getting elected to the Senate in November.
“Frank Artiles loves his community, is an incredibly effective legislator and advocate, and has shown again he will always do what’s best for the people of Florida. 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” Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said in a statement.
