Florida Senator Mel Martinez Resigns

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Congress

(AP)

Updated at 3:55 p.m. ET with new information.

Republican Sen. Mel Martinez announced his resignation today. He said he will leave office as soon as his replacement is named in order to pursue a life in the private sector.

The senator had already announced he would not seek re-election next year.

"My priorities have always been my faith, my family and my country and at this stage in my life, and after nearly 12 years of public service in Florida and Washington, it's time I return to Florida and my family," Martinez said in a prepared statement he read at a press conference today.

Martinez said that he has no health problems or any other reasons that would force him out of office.

"There's no impending reason, it's only my desire to move on and get on with the rest of my life," he said.

Republican Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who has announced he is running for the Senate seat in the next year's election, may appoint a replacement for the remainder of Martinez's term, according to Florida's Senate vacancy laws. Crist could appoint himself but is not expected to, a Republican source told CBS News' Political Director Steve Chaggaris.

"I have a great deal of respect for my good friend Mel Martinez. I know this decision was a difficult one for him, but I think he is doing what he believes is right for him and his family," Crist said in a prepared statement. "We will immediately begin the process of selecting an appropriate replacement to serve the remainder of Sen. Martinez's term, and I look forward to making an announcement in the coming weeks."

At today's press conference, Martinez said he had spoken with Crist earlier about his potential resignation and that he expects the governor to choose his successor in a "transparent and good process." He did not, however, give any indication of whom that person might be.

"That is the governor's decision," Martinez said. "I trust him to do a good job on that."

Possible appointments include former Republican Gov. Bob Martinez, former Crist chief of staff George Lemieux, and former Florida Attorney General and Secretary of State Jim Smith. It is expected Crist would appoint someone who will not run for the seat in 2010.

Martinez said today he would be joining the private sector but did not elaborate any further.

"I have no specific plans for my future other than it's going to be in private life," he said.

He added, however, that he would like to continue to be an active and constructive voice on public matters.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by God1stalways August 9, 2009 8:36 AM EDT: As the temporary Senator, the governor should pick SCOTT ROTHSTEIN, the South Florida mega-lawyer who raised millions for Charlie and his favorites. Rothstein is smart, Florida-centered and would be a major fundraiser in getting Crist elected after the one year stint.

Rothstein can help Charlie win the seat; others can do virtually nothing.

PICK SCOTT ROTHSTEIN!!; Reply to this comment


by iramback August 7, 2009 10:09 PM EDT: Funny how none of these politicians or news people bothered to degrade this guy like they did Palin when she resigned. Still a double-standard world when it comes to men and women.; Reply to this comment


by bradkt1 August 7, 2009 7:16 PM EDT: I am not going to automatically assume that there is some kind of scandal involved here, but U.S. Senators usually do not resign their seats early. I don't see it being related to the GOP attitude toward Justice Sontamayor...or toward illegal immigration or Hispanics in general. It's not like conservatives have suddenly changed their position on these issues. If he had to resign for reasons of conscience, you just don't run for reelection and retire quietly or you go out with a public blast. Yo0u don't just resign early and say practically nothing.

Something is up and it is apparently family-related.; Reply to this comment


by thebob-bob August 7, 2009 6:22 PM EDT: He no longer wants to associate himself with a Party that is devolving into an extremist right-wing fringe group. He wants to be able to say that he left before it changed its name to the New American Fascist Party.

He'll do penitence for supporting the Bush Crime Family for so long. He'll have to answer for his support of so much gone wrong but he won't have to be on the inside when the Party collapses.

Get out Mel while the getting's good!; Reply to this comment


by bpai99 August 7, 2009 12:48 PM EDT: Palin/Martinez in 2012.; Reply to this comment

by stn_sage August 7, 2009 12:43 PM EDT

To endurorob:

Oh, c'mon! You want to drag up something that happened THIRTY YEARS AGO and compare that to a HUGE STRING of Republican sex scandals, perversion, adultery, job malfeasance over the last year or two, and say THEY'RE THE SAME?!

Well, buddy---there's NOT! parrot7 is talking CURRENT news and you're talking ANCIENT HISTORY! Moving on---

Good! I'm glad to hear Mr. Martinez is quitting. Most of these guys do when they can't get their way, anymore! Quit, and go home! That's fine!

And, CBS! You don't have to tell us WHAT he's done, that's despicable.
Peak our interest, then drop the bombshell on us next week. I can wait
until then to find out what the latest Republican scandal IS!

Remember---always leave them wanting MORE!

Reply to this comment


by neitherliar August 8, 2009 1:33 AM EDT: They are all liars and cheats. The difference seems to be that Reps resign when caught, but Dems get re-elected. These are a few from a list someone else did, but I remember quite a few of them. Let's see...
John F. Kennedy: widely known to have had many extramarital affairs while President - including one with Marylin Monroe.

William Jefferson Clinton- Gennifer Flowersgate - Paula Jonesgate- The Lewinsky Affair - Perjury and Jobs for Lewinskygate - Kathleen Willeygate - Jaunita Broaddrick Gate

John Edwards: Ex-Democrat presidential candidate and Senator- admitted to having an extramarital affair during his campaign for president while his wife was suffering from brast cancer.

Reverand Jesse Jackson: Ex-Democrat presidential candidate admitted in 2001 to having an extramarital affair and fathering a child out of wedlock.

Barney Frank: U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. Admitted to having paid Stephen L. Gobie, a male prostitute, for sex and subsequently hiring Gobie as his personal assistant. Gobie used the congressman's Washington apartment for prostitution. A move to expel Frank from the House of Representatives failed and a motion to censure him failed.

Colorado Sen. Gary Hart: He was considered the front-runner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination until the press uncovered his extramarital affair with 29-year-old model Donna Rice. He dropped out of the race a week later.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer: Democrat - New York governor - resigned from office after being tied to a prostitution ring and having affairs with prostitutes..

New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey: McGreevey resigned three months after admitting in 2004 that he had had an extramarital affair with a male employee.

Modesto Rep. Gary Condit: Authorities revealed Condit had an extramarital affair in 2001 with intern Chandra Levy, who had disappeared. In 2002, he lost a primary election, and Levy's remains were found in a Washington park. The case is still unsolved.

Florida U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney: admitted he had an affair with an aide and it is reported paid her $121,000 to keep her quiet and avoid a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Henry G. Cisneros: Former housing secretary under Bill Clinton pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of lying to the FBI about money he paid to a former mistress.

Rep. Mel Reynolds: of Illinois was convicted in 1995 of sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl- sentenced to five years in prison. President Bill Clinton pardoned him before leaving office.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick: Text messages indicate he had an extramarital affair with his chief of staff.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom: The mayor admitted an extramarital affair in 2007 with the wife of his former deputy chief of staff.

Marion Barry: Democrat - mayor of Washington, D.C., from 1979 to 1991 and again from 1995 to 1999. Convicted of cocaine possession after being caught on videotape smoking crack cocaine ith a longtime female friend.

Gov. David A. Paterson acknowledged Monday having extramarital affairs during a period in their 15-year marriage.

Gerry Eastman Studds - U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1973 to 1997. The first openly gay member of Congress. Censured by the House of Representatives for having sexual relations with a teenage House page.


by neitherliar August 8, 2009 1:39 AM EDT: Darn, I exceeded the character count..there's more:
Former New York Rep. Fred Richmond: arrested in 1978 for soliciting sex from a 16-year-old boy. He remained in Congress and won re-election, but resigned in 1982 after pleading guilty to tax evasion and drug possession.

Jerry Springer - Democrat - Resigned from Cincinnati City Council in 1974 after admitting to paying a prostitute with a personal check, which was found in a police raid on a massage parlor.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: Announced he had a 2007 extramarital affair with a television reporter covering City Hall. He has filed for divorce from his wife, and remains in office.

David Giles: Candidate for U.S. Representative from Washington in 1986 and 1990. Convicted in June 2000 of child rape.

Neil Goldschmidt: Oregon governor. Admitted to having an illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old teenager while he was serving as Mayor of Portland.

Kentucky Governor Paul Patton: political career fell apart after allegations he retaliated against an ex-mistress' business when she ended the affair.

Ohio Rep. Wayne Hays: Rresigned from Congress in 1976 after his mistress, Elizabeth Ray, said he hired her as part of his staff.

Washington Sen. Brock Adams: abandoned a reelection campaign in 1992 amid numerous allegations from women of drugging, assault and rape.

West Virginia Governor Bob Wise: admitted to an extramarital affair;

Allan Turner Howe: U.S. Representative from Utah from 1975 to 1977. Arrested for soliciting a policewoman posing as a prostitute.

Joseph Waggonner Jr.: U.S. Representative from Louisiana from 1961 to 1979. Arrested in Washington, D.C. for soliciting a policewoman posing as a prostitute

Mel Martinez was actually a caring and, in my personal experience, dedicated public official. I hope that there was no serious issues that caused his resignation. Probably couldn't stand to be around the Washington scum any longer. And just a note; even the big O resigned his seat before the end of his term.


by endurorob August 7, 2009 12:07 PM EDT: parrots7 August 7, 2009 11:47 AM EDT
I wonder what this Republican Senator went and did now ..... Always some Repug, quitting their elected jobs and courting scandals week in, week out. Cheers!

Always some repug? Never see a dem do anything unethical or illegal do we. Just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated the 30th anniversery of Ted Kennedy's driving a car off a bridge and leavign the youg lady that was in the car with him there to drown. What a POS coward and the dem supporters continue to elect him.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob August 7, 2009 12:04 PM EDT: Come on CBS, give us a complete story. Without a reason why he is resigning this means nothing.; Reply to this comment


by parrots7 August 7, 2009 11:47 AM EDT: I wonder what this Republican Senator went and did now ..... Always some Repug, quitting their elected jobs and courting scandals week in, week out. Cheers!; Reply to this comment