TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Embattled Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom is stepping down from his post.

Republican Rep. Larry Cretul of Ocala will replace the Destin Republican in the "short term."  That's according to Republican Rep. William Snyder of Stuart.

Republican Rep. J.C. Planas of Miami was among those asking Sansom to leave his job amid an avalanche of controversy over his dealings with Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.

Forty-six-year-old Sansom is facing investigations by a grand jury and the state ethics commissioner after taking a $110,000-a-year job at the college the same day he became speaker.

Sansom spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin told reporters outside the speaker's office she expects a statement later Friday.