ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Joe Castrofort spent five years as a prosecutor, and he says Monique Worrell’s suspension is just that right now.
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Castrofort said she and her team can turn it around if they show rational reasoning for the decisions she made not to prosecute cases.
“It’s really highly unusual,” Castrofort said. “I’ve never seen this in the 23 years i’ve been doing it.”
LIVE UPDATES: Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell
But now that the dust has settled, he said the battle is on for Worrell’s legal team to prove her office isn’t doing what Gov. Ron DeSantis has accused them of: not prosecuting enough criminals, and avoiding mandatory minimum sentences for gun crime, drug trafficking offenses and child pornography.
Castrofort said Worrell has a chance to prove her side before the suspension becomes permanent.
“This is going to be reviewed and she’ll have the right to due process and be heard, and a hearing,” he said.
READ: Central Florida reacts to DeSantis’ suspension of Monique Worrell: Hear from local officials
But how will her legal team build their case?
“If (her team can explain) each of those cases and can clarify each of those instances and not a dereliction of duty and not a circumvention of Florida law in this jurisdiction, then it could be desantis is overreaching,” Castrofort said.
Worrell promised Wednesday she wouldn’t go quietly and she would fight.
Read: ‘It is the loss of democracy’: Monique Worrell responds to her suspension as state attorney
Castrofort said DeSantis’ team will also make sure they can hit back against any defense Worrell’s team comes up with.
Worrell said once her team completes their legal review, she’ll provide an update on her next move.
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