The Florida state senator who resigned Friday after using a racial slur hired a former Hooters ``calendar girl'' and a Playboy model with no political experience to be consultants for his political action committee last year, according to a report.
The Miami Herald reports Saturday that state records show that Frank Artiles' PAC, Veterans for Conservative Principals, had paid former Hooters model Heather Thomas $2,000 and former Playboy model Brittney Singletary $1,500. They were listed as consultants.
Artiles' political consultant David Custin refused to answer the paper's questions. Singletary said she did fundraising for the PAC. Thomas declined to comment.
Artiles, a Republican, resigned Friday after he used vulgarities and a variation of the N-word in a barroom conversation with two black colleagues earlier in the week.
Artiles, a Republican who represents District 40 in Miami-Dade, announced that he was stepping down in a letter sent to Senate President Joe Negron.
"My actions and my presence in government is now a distraction to my colleagues, the legislative process, and the citizens of our great State," the letter read. "I am responsible and I am accountable and effective immediately, I am resigning from the Florida State Senate."
