On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell for “neglecting her duty to faithfully prosecute crime in her jurisdiction.”
Worrell was elected to her post as Florida Ninth Judicial Circuit state attorney representing Orange and Osceola Counties in 2020.
“Worrell’s practices and policies have too often allowed violent criminals to escape the full consequences of their criminal conduct, thereby endangering the innocent civilians of Orange and Osceola counties. The governor has the authority to suspend a state officer under Article IV, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution. The governor has appointed former Judge Andrew Bain to serve as State Attorney for the duration of the suspension,” the governor’s office noted.
“It is my duty as governor to ensure that the laws enacted by our duly elected Legislature are followed,” said DeSantis. “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.”
“We are fortunate to have a governor committed to the rule of law and holding officials — especially those elected to protect the public — accountable for not doing the jobs they swore an oath to do,” said state Attorney General Ashley Moody. “Ms. Worrell abdicated her responsibility as the circuit’s top prosecutor and her actions undermine the safety and security of our state and Floridians.”
Bain served as Orange County judge in the 9th Judicial Circuit and as an assistant state attorney in the 9th Circuit under then State Attorney Jeffrey Ashton.
Democrats responded and attacked DeSantis for removing Worrell.
State Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, noted that DeSantis also removed then-State Attorney Andrew Warren and insisted the move was politically motivated as the governor continues to run for the Republican presidential nomination.
“This latest attack on our democracy is classic Ron DeSantis as he struggles to resuscitate his floundering presidential campaign on the right-wing cable circuit. DeSantis’ weaponization of government is not only an inappropriate use of taxpayer resources, but also insultingly hypocritical. This is clearly motivated by misogyny and racism as State Attorney Monique Worrell is Florida’s only Black woman state attorney and serves Central Florida with incredible dedication and a commitment to justice. The fact that DeSantis is tyrannically targeting duly-elected officials, in the name of unjustified, partisan gain, while pledging allegiance to ‘the rule of law’ is sickening. I’ll wait while he refuses to hold white GOP elected officials who fail to do their jobs to the same standard,” said Jones.
