Gov. Rick Scott Calls Racial Slur 'Disgusting'

MIAMI, FL — Florida Gov. Rick Scott called the racially charged slur by a Miami state senator "disgusting" on Thursday but stopped short of calling for Frank Artiles to be expelled from the Florida Senate.

"It's disappointing. It's disgusting. It's wrong," Scott told Local 10's Michael Putney in a televised interview. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Pinecrest Patch.)

State officials are reportedly conducting an investigation to determine if any Senate rules were broken.

Like us on Facebook if you like your Pinecrest Patch

Artiles apologizedon the floor of the Florida Senate for more than three minutes during Wednesday's session for using a racially charged slur in private conversations with two members, both of whom are African-American. But that hasn't stopped calls for the Marine veteran to step down amid the controversy over his casual use of the racial slur and profanity.

Meanwhile, former Florida Gov. Charlie Christ, who is now a congressman, joined calls for Artiles to step down.

A number of protesters chanted and taped placards outside Artiles' Miami area office on Thursday calling for his resignation. The senator, a former Marine, has said that he had no plans to do so.

"He's a separately elected official," said Scott during the interview with Local 10. "They’ve got to make those decisions on their own. But I can tell you that I’m disgusted. I’m disappointed. You should never hear things like that about anybody.”

Both lawmakers who were present when Artiles uttered the racial slur — Sen. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville and Sen. Perry Thurston of Fort Lauderdale — are Democrats while Artiles is a Republican. Artiles said he did not direct the racial slur toward anyone in particular but "that is rightfully the most inflammatory."

Thurston said that a formal complaint had been filed with the Florida Senate Rules Committee calling for Artiles to be expelled.

WATCH NOW: Sen. Artiles Apologizes to Florida Senate:

Image courtesy of Gov. Rick Scott