'This is an outrage': Suspended Florida state attorney fires back at 'weak dictator' DeSantis

09 August 2023

Florida governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced the suspension of elected Democratic State Attorney Monique Worrell of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court and appointed her conservative Federalist Society-backed colleague Judge Andrew Bain to replace her.

Worrell's ouster marks the second time that DeSantis has fired a civil servant chosen by residents of Florida. In February 2022, DeSantis removed Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, whom DeSantis accused of "neglect of duty" for "refusing to prosecute abortion and gender-affirming cases," Tampa Bay's Fox 13 recalled on August 3rd. The outlet noted that Warren "is still fighting in court to get his job back but hasn't decided whether he'll ask voters to return him to office."

DeSantis' decision to ax Warren received significant blowback. A year and a half later, critics similarly scolded DeSantis for usurping the democratic process immediately after he fired Worrell.

Speaking at a press conference, Worrell denounced DeSantis and defended her reputation.

"All right, well good morning. I think this is the moment we've all been waiting for. If we're mourning anything this morning, it is the loss of democracy. I am your duly elected state attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and nothing done by a weak dictator can change that," Worrell said.

"This is an outrage," Worrell continued. "One year, three years ago, I was elected by the people of the Ninth Judicial Circuit to lead this circuit, and yes, to do things unconventionally, to do things differently. But I didn't hide. I didn't say that I would do things and I didn't do them. I didn't say I wouldn't do things and not did them. I did exactly what I said I would do, and that is what you want from an elected official."

Watch below via The Recount or at this link.

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