Florida Democrats are responding to Governor Ron DeSantis’ suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell, calling the move “politically motivated” and saying the Republican Governor and Presidential candidate “has gone too far.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell of the 9th Judicial Circuit for neglecting her duty to faithfully prosecute crime in her jurisdiction. He issued a detailed 40-page Executive Order detailing the reasons why Worrell had failed the people she represents and the state of Florida. Crime in greater Orlando, and throughout Orange and Osceola counties, continues to be a problem under Democratic elected officials who play the same politics as Worrell, but Central Florida voters elected them.
“Ron DeSantis has gone too far,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. “Monique Worrell is a devoted public servant — one who was elected overwhelmingly by her constituents. This political hit job threatens our democracy and undermines the will of the people.”
The Florida Legislative Black Caucus also slammed Governor DeSantis’ suspension, noting that “Worrell is the only Black woman State Attorney in the State of Florida.” Governor DeSantis replaced Worrell with former judge Andrew Bain, who is also Black, but Democrats said Bain is a “judicial appointee and member of the Federalist Society.”
“Once again our Governor has put politics above people, despite saying during this morning’s press conference that ‘One’s political agenda cannot trump a one’s solemn duty,’” said Tampa State Representative Dianne Hart, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. “It is troubling that Florida and her people are being used as political pawns by this Governor to further a failing presidential bid. I am a firm believer that the voters knew who they wanted, that’s why she was duly elected. Florida has real pressing issues. We have the highest inflation of any state, insurance companies continue to leave the state, inaccurate history standards, and because of gotcha politics like this, taxpayers are having to spend millions of dollars to fund a legal defense of this Governor and his policies. This suspension was uncalled for, the Governor should be working on the real kitchen table issues of the state not trying to score political points at the expense of others.”
Just days ago, Worrell joined Florida Democrats and spoke out against the state’s new education standards relating to the political controversy around teaching about slavery.
“Ron’s extremist administration has consistently targeted the rights and freedoms of Black and brown Floridians, and the suspension of State Attorney Worrell — the only Black woman state attorney in Florida — is clearly racially and politically motivated,” FDP Chair Fried added. “Ron’s presidential campaign has been a disaster of epic proportions, but attacking law and order in service of his culture wars isn’t the solution to his problems. On behalf of her constituents, the Florida Democratic Party demands the immediate reinstatement of State Attorney Worrell.”
More Democrats responded to Monique Worrell being removed from her elected position as State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit by Governor DeSantis:
Ocoee State Representative Lavon Bracy-Davis issued the following the statement, “The suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell is just another despicable example of Ron DeSantis using his executive privilege to fight tooth and nail for political points in a race he is sorely losing. This is an attack on the Black community and outright voter disenfranchisement. He criticizes the 45th president for disenfranchising voters and not accepting his loss, but turns around and does the same exact thing to the people of Florida when they let their voice be heard at the ballot box. We have to see the parallels of hypocrisy that the Governor time and time again commits. It’s time for us get up, wake up and get engaged because we are witnessing an attack on our democracy. I urgently call for the immediate reinstatement of State Attorney a Monique Worrell and insist that the governor and his friends stay out of Orange County politics as the voters have spoken and we are what democracy looks like.”
Calling it “an entirely political move,” Orlando State Rep. Rita Harris also responded. “This is a gross abuse of power coming from the Governor, and he must be held accountable,” she said. “Gov. DeSantis’ actions are outrageous and against the very fabric of our democracy. Although the citizens of Orange and Osceola County overwhelmingly elected Monique Worrell as their State Attorney, the Governor has taken that office hostage.”
Florida House Democratic Leader and Tampa Rep. Fentrice Driskell issued the following statement: “In 2020, Monique Worrell was elected overwhelmingly by her community as state attorney. She didn’t finish third behind Vivek Ramaswamy. The people of Orange and Osceola Counties chose her to represent their interests and principles. They did not need Ron DeSantis to throw out their vote and install someone who does not share their values. This is not democracy, but it is Florida today, sadly. DeSantis and his allies have said they want to reshape Florida’s circuit court system. Their extremist views are rejected in many of our communities, so they plan to gerrymander Blue counties out of the right to pick their own state attorneys. This is the same playbook that just failed the GOP in Ohio—if you can’t win on your ideas, rig the game.”
Fort Lauderdale State Representative Daryl Campbell added: “What we have seen here is yet another attack on not just the Black Community, but Black women who continue to endure life in Florida at the treacherous hands of both detrimental legislation and political motives. It’s imperative that the governor recognize the ramifications of removing yet another elected official from their office effectively silencing the voices of the people who elected State Attorney Monique Worrell.”
Orlando Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said the decision was similar to the unconstitutional suspension of Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren.
“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,” said Rep. Frost. “But once again, it’s our communities and the people of Florida that have become pawns in DeSantis’s long-term plans for total and absolute power.”
But will voters care as much as the criminals who were getting sweetheart deals? The Democrats hope so, but once again resorted to using words like “fascism.”
“State Attorney Worrell is a duly elected public servant who has done her job,” Rep. Frost added. “The people of Orange County see this fraud suspension for what it is and continue to offer her our support as she fights this overreach of power. We will not stand for this blatant abuse of power and fascism in our state.”
Here is Governor DeSantis’ 40-page Executive Order.
RELATED: Progressives ‘Rally for Our Democracy’ in Orlando for Suspended State Attorney
RELATED: Republican Senate Candidate Blasts DeSantis, ‘Shameless Grandstanding’
