MIAMI – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday the suspension “with immediate effect” of State’s Attorney Monique H. Worrell, an African-American that in his first reaction branded the state president a “dictator” and claimed that it is a “political” decision.
DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican primary for the 2024 general election, accused Worrell of failing to impose mandatory sentences for drug and gun offenses.
“The state of Florida is a law and order state and that means we have strong policies to hold criminals accountable for their misconduct,” DeSantis said.
“Prosecutors have a duty to faithfully enforce the law. One’s political agenda cannot exceed this solemn duty,” added the governor.
Worrell was elected three years ago as state’s attorney of the state court for the 9th judicial circuit, which includes Orange and Osceola counties.
In a press conference, Worrell said that in Florida elected officials “are being removed from office solely for political purposes And that shouldn’t happen.”
“If we have learned anything this morning, it is the loss of democracy.. I am your state’s attorney-elect for the 9th judicial circuit and nothing a weak dictator does can change that,” Worrell told reporters outside the Orange County Courthouse.
“I didn’t hide, I didn’t say things and then I didn’t do them, I didn’t say I wouldn’t do things and then I did them. I did exactly what I said I was going to do and that is what you expect from an elected official,” he stated.
It’s a statement, the Florida Democratic Party called the governor’s order an “unfounded suspension”.
“Just a few days ago, Monique spoke out against Florida’s new education standards; standards that will teach our children that there was some kind of benefit in slavery,” said Nikki Fried, leader of that party in Florida.
Fried criticized the DeSantis campaign for using it to “assault law and order in favor of their culture wars” and demanded the “immediate reinstatement” of Worrell on behalf of the constituents” of the Democratic Party.
“Ron’s extremist administration has consistently focused on going against the rights and freedoms of black Floridians, and the suspension of State Attorney Worrell, the only black state attorney in Florida, is clearly racially and politically motivated,” he said. Fried.
Following the announcement of Worrell’s suspension, DeSantis said he has appointed Judge Andrew Bain, who serves as a judge in Orlando.to assume the position of State’s Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.
“I am confident that he will be a prosecutor who will faithfully enforce the law and keep Central Florida communities safe,” DeSantis said.
