Ron DeSantis Suspends Second Black State Attorney For Neglect Of Duty, Muscle Flexing As He Trails Behind Trump?

Gov. DeSantis suspended Democratic State Attorney Monique Worrell on Wednesday for alleged “neglect of duty,” contending that she failed to pursue appropriate charges in serious cases. 

“The state of Florida is a law-and-order state, and that means we support the men and women who wear the uniform, who protect and serve. It means we have strong policies to hold criminals accountable for their misconduct,” DeSantis said at a press briefing. “Prosecutors have a duty to faithfully enforce the law. One’s political agenda cannot trump this solemn duty."  

Worrell was elected state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial District in 2020 with 67% of the vote and was intending to run again in 2024.

'Weak Dictator'

Worrell laid into DeSantis at a press conference later on Wednesday.

“If we are mourning anything this morning, it is the loss of democracy,” she said. “I am your duly elected state attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and nothing done by a weak dictator can change that. This is an outrage.”

In April, Worrell had accused DeSantis of pursuing “this witch-hunt to establish a basis for the removal of another duly-elected prosecutor” after she learned that a Central Florida Republican Party official had been seeking prosecution data from her office regarding human trafficking cases. 

Orlando state House Democrat, Anna Eskamani, posted on social media that DeSantis "continues to strip away our freedoms and local democracy. I am disgusted."

Law And Order Governor

DeSantis, who has presented himself as a law-and-order governor who will not be legalizing weed if elected, is trailing behind Donald Trump in his presidential primary bid.

His anti-woke bravado and tough-on-crime stance make one wonder if he thinks that dumping the state's Democratic judicial experts might help him in the polls. Last year, DeSantis suspended State Attorney Andrew Warren, who is also Black, over what was viewed as his progressive political stance.

Cases from the past two years, which DeSantis used as examples of Worrell being soft on crime, include drug trafficking, gun possession and other offenses that received reduced sentences or were dismissed.

AG Moody Gets Her Two Cents In

Florida’s Republican AG Ashley Moody, who stood by DeSantis' side Wednesday, got in on the hack job. 

“Officers may arrest you, they risk their lives arresting you. But if you’re in the 9th Circuit, nearly half the time, the state attorney will not follow through,” said Moody who has argued against putting cannabis legalization on a state ballot in 2024 even though sufficient signatures have been collected to do so. 

On Worrell's office website, the state attorney outlines the goals of the independently elected office.

"While engaging in the day-to-day prosecutorial function, we likewise seek to reform and improve the criminal justice system by measuring success in the courtroom and the community," the site says.

Worrell has vowed to fight the suspension in court and run for re-election.

“If we are mourning anything ... it is the loss of democracy. I am your duly elected state attorney ... and nothing done by a weak dictator can change that. This is an outrage.”

— State Attorney Monique Worrell (D) reacts to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) suspending her from office pic.twitter.com/lUbNx7FX2Q

— The Recount (@therecount) August 9, 2023