TALLAHASSEE—
U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez said Friday he was stepping aside to spend more time with his family, but he would stay involved in Republican politics and continue to be active in Cuban-American affairs.Martinez told reporters in a press conference at Orlando International Airport that he was "absolutely not" pressured to resign, and that he had called Gov. Charlie Crist to let him know what he was doing -- but that he "trusted him to make the decision" of who to name to finish his term.
Whatever his next move, Martinez said it won't involve public office.
"In the private sector, I do hope that I can have a voice to speak on issues that I care about," he said.
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