ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The assistant state attorney behind a scathing Facebook post about the city of Orlando following the Pulse nightclub terror attacks has been terminated from his position, according to the State Attorney’s Office of the 9th Judicial Circuit.
After the shooting, Kenneth Lewis posted a statement on his Facebook page that read, in part, “The entire city should be leveled. It is void of any redeeming quality,” and, “It is a melting pot of 3rd world miscreants and ghetto thugs.”
The post went on to say that, “Orlando is a national embarrassment."
Lewis was initially suspended for violating the office’s social media policy, which was created after Lewis came under fire for a controversial Facebook post on Mother's Day.
MORE: Read the SAO's social media policy
In 2014, Lewis came under fire after he posted, "Happy Mother's Day to all you crack hoes out there... It's never too late to tie your tubes, clean up your life...," on Facebook.
It was announced Thursday that Lewis has been terminated.
In a letter about Lewis’ termination, State Attorney Jeff Ashton wrote, “Whether you intended to convey that all those who attend nightclubs are animals (the zoo reference) or whether the reference to ‘debauchery’ was meant to express some objection to the lifestyle choices of those who attended this club, we will never know. I cannot believe that a man of your intelligence would not realize that your comment could bear that interpretation.”
MORE: Read the full letter about Lewis' firing
MORE: Read the notice of disciplinary action
Jeff Ashton also said in the letter that he received a note from the attorney representing the family of Sasha Samsudean, who investigators said was raped and murdered by Stephen Duxbury.
The attorney expressed concern over the post and asked that Lewis be removed from the case.
The attorney was worried Lewis couldn’t fairly prosecute Duxbury, since Samsudean is a minority and had been drinking in downtown Orlando the night she died.
The letter from the attorney said, in part, “Mr. Lewis’ unnecessary racist and insensitive public comments could sway a juror from ignoring the facts and viewing the evidence on their opinion of Mr. Lewis, which is not fait to the victim in this matter.”
Lewis said in a letter to Ashton that the social media policy is vague and that his firing was a violation of his constitutional rights.
Lewis said he signed a document indicating he will appeal the decision.
MORE: Read Lewis' defense of his actions
Related Story: Investigation clears assistant state attorney who wrote "crack hoes" Facebook post
Cox Media Group
