ORLANDO, Fla. — Citing a neglect of duty, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday morning that he was suspending Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell effective immediately.
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Flanked by State Attorney Ashley Moody, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, DeSantis described Worrell’s administration as “clearly and fundamentally derelict, constituting neglect of duty and incompetence.”
“It is my duty as governor to ensure that the laws enacted by our duly elected Legislature are followed,” DeSantis said. “The people of Central Florida deserve to have a state attorney who will seek justice in accordance with the law instead of allowing violent criminals to roam the streets and find new victims.”
Read: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ full executive order suspending State Attorney Monique Worrell
Ninth Circuit Judge Andrew Bain will be appointed to take over as Orange-Osceola County State Attorney during the suspension, DeSantis announced.
Central Florida lawmakers and law enforcement officials have voiced their opinions about the move. We’ve gathered some of their reaction below:
Read: ‘It is the loss of democracy’: Monique Worrell responds to her suspension as state attorney
State Rep. Anna Eskamani
Eskamani, whose district includes much of Orange County, was one of the first lawmakers to express disappointment in the suspension, describing it as a “slap in the face” to Orange and Osceola County residents.
Photos: Monique Worrell through the years
U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost
Frost, whose district also includes Orange County, released a statement describing the suspension as unconstitutional:
“We saw this coming from a mile away – with his presidential campaign up in flames, wanna-be dictator Governor Ron DeSantis is taking a page out of his tired playbook by unconstitutionally suspending a duly elected State Attorney to breathe life back into his tired conservative persona,” Frost’s statement said. “For months, this Governor has chosen to not only attack but abuse the power of his office to feed red meat to his conservative base and remove elected officials who threaten his agenda.”
This removal of an elected official is much deeper than Gov DeSantis not doing well in his Presidential bid and trying to find some steam. He has actively been subverting democracy and disenfranchising voters to consolidate power for him and his cronies. A hostile takeover.
— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) August 9, 2023
State Sen. Linda Stewart
The Orange County Democrat released a statement questioning the legality of the move but vowed to remain impartial going forward:
“We have elections to select the candidates we believe best represent our communities’ values, and I do not believe the suspension today is what our democracy was meant to look like,” Stewart’s statement said, in part. “The Governor does, however, retain the ability to suspend those who do not fulfill their responsibilities as elected for reasons such as negligence of duty, malfeasance, incompetence and habitual drunkenness…It is ultimately the decision of the Senate to decide if the evidence cited by the Governor is adequate to justify the suspension, and I will be standing by ready to complete my duties as an impartial juror in the Senate when the time comes that we review this decision.”
The suspension wasn’t met entirely with ridicule. Several lawmakers and law enforcement officials have expressed support for DeSantis’ decision.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd
Judd was one of two Central Florida sheriffs who attended DeSantis’ news conference announcing Worrell’s suspension and spoke out against her administration:
“People of Orange and Osceola County trusted that she would do her job. I’ve talked to the sheriffs of Osceola and Orange, and I can tell you unequivocally they fear for the citizens of the community because, despite their best efforts, no matter how many criminals you arrest, if the state attorney won’t hold them accountable, then the community’s not safe.”
"The Worrell Effect" @PolkCoSheriff made an equation for what he says is Worrell's failure to do her job.@GovRonDeSantis has suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/wpCsXkK3jJ
— Kirstin Delgado (@KirstinTVnews) August 9, 2023
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey
Ivey was also in Tallahassee Wednesday morning and expressed his support for DeSantis:
“His actions today, without question, save the lives of citizens in Central Florida, but they also save the lives of citizens in other parts of the state. No matter how good a job we do to put bad people in jail, if the state attorney is not being the voice for the victims, our efforts are wasted.”
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott
Scott, a Republican, echoed the cheers for the suspension, which he said would have been justified months ago:
“I’ve said since February that SA Worrell’s suspension would be justified, and I’m glad the Governor took this action today. Florida will never be a sanctuary state for criminals.”
I’ve said since February that SA Worrell’s suspension would be justified, and I’m glad the Governor took this action today.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) August 9, 2023
Florida will never be a sanctuary state for criminals. https://t.co/JO2CmTCWnK
READ: Andrew Bain: Who is the state attorney appointed to replace Monique Worrell?
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s office also released a statement, vowing to cooperate with the State Attorney’s Office, regardless of who’s in charge:
“As a city, public safety is our top priority and we remain committed to that. We will continue to work with the State Attorney’s office, regardless of who is in that office, to bring cases forward to hold criminals responsible and keep our community safe.”
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings
Demings was equally restrained in his response, urging residents to keep a close eye on what happens next:
“The bar should be very high whenever that occurs. That’s something that Floridians are going to have to watch very carefully.”
This story is developing. Please stay with WFTV.com as more information comes into our newsroom.
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