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COLUMBIA (AP) -- South Carolina Republicans have ended a meeting without disciplining or dismissing a state legislator who used a racial slur to criticize gubernatorial nominee and state Rep. Nikki Haley.

State GOP executive director Joel Sawyer says no action was taken against state Sen. Jake Knotts during the party's executive committee meeting Saturday.

Days before the June 8 primary, Knotts called Haley a "raghead" during an appearance on an Internet talk show program.

Haley's parents immigrated from India. Knotts hastily apologized for using the a derogatory reference to people of Middle Eastern or Indian descent.

The Lexington County Republican Party censured Knotts and asked him to resign. But the defiant West Columbia lawmaker said he was proud to be stereotyped as a redneck. 

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