Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, a Democrat, for refusing to enforce certain laws, including the recent 15-week abortion ban , the Tampa Bay Times reports.
According to the order on the suspension, Warren “demonstrated his incompetence and willful defiance of his duties,” by signing a ‘Joint Statement’ with other elected prosecutors “to use our discretion and not promote the criminalization of gender- affirming healthcare or transgender people,” enacting a policy not to prosecute “certain criminal violations, including trespassing at a business location, disorderly conduct, disorderly intoxication, and prostitution”, and enacting a policy “against prosecuting crimes where the initial encounter between law enforcement and the defendant results from a non-criminal violation in connection with riding a bicycle or a pedestrian violation.”
DeSantis also noted that Warren expressed “in writing that he will not prosecute individuals who provide abortions in violation of Florida’s criminal laws to protect the life of the unborn child.”
“Warren has effectively nullified these Florida criminal laws in the 13th Judicial Circuit, thereby eroding the rule of law, encouraging lawlessness, and usurping the exclusive role of the Florida Legislature to define criminal conduct,” the order states, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
At a news conference on Thursday, DeSantis said Warren has “put himself publicly above the law” adding, “our government is a government of laws, not a government of men.”
By suspending Warren, DeSantis dismissed the votes of 53% of Hillsborough County residents who cast their ballot for him in 2020.
Warren has been a frequent critic of DeSantis and the politically motivated laws he enacted in the state. His suspension is indefinite. DeSantis has appointed Hillsborough County Judge Susan Lopez, who he named to the bench last year, to serve in his place.
“I have the utmost trust that Judge Susan Lopez will lead the office through this transition and faithfully uphold the rule of law,” DeSantis said.
Several Democrats released statements criticizing DeSantis for his decision to suspend a duly elected state official.
“The people of Hillsborough elected Andrew Warren not once, but twice, because of his commitment to safety and justice for all people. This action by Governor DeSantis is that of a wannabe dictator who puts partisan politics first,” Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist said in a statement.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried also released a statement saying “this is a politically motivated attack on a universally respected State Attorney democratically elected to exercise prosecutorial discretion.”
