Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended the top prosecutor in Orlando, wielding his executive again power over local government in taking on a contentious issue in the 2024 presidential race.
It's the second time DeSantis, a Republican, has removed a Democratic state attorney and follows an investigation that began when a teenager was charged with fatally shooting a television reporter and a 9-year-old girl.
“It is my duty as Governor to ensure that the laws enacted by our duly elected Legislature are followed,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Tallahassee announcing the suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which serves Orange and Osceola counties.
DeSantis' office began investigating Worrell after 19-year-old Keith Moses was charged with first degree murder in the deaths of Spectrum News 13 report Dylan Lyons, Nathacha Augustin and 9-year-old T’yonna Major. The girl’s mother and Spectrum News 13 photographer Jesse Walden were also shot.
Shortly after the shooting, DeSantis' general counsel said in a letter to Worrell that she failed to hold Moses accountable despite his criminal record and gang affiliation. The governor's office sought Moses' juvenile records, which are usually protected.
In his announcement Tuesday, DeSantis cited other cases and said Worrell avoided minimum mandatory sentences on charges that included gun crimes, drug trafficking and child pornography. He also said the state attorney’s office had a pattern of letting juveniles avoid serious charges or incarceration and noted the shooting over the weekend of two Orlando police officers by a 28-year-old man with a long criminal history.
But Democrats and civil rights groups said the Worrell's suspension was politically motivated and noted she is the only Black woman in Florida elected to serve as a state attorney.
“This is absolutely disgusting," said Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani. “Her removal is a complete slap in the face to Orange and Osceola County residents and another example of Governor DeSantis eroding our local control and democracy. This politically motivated action by the Governor in a predominantly democratic part of the state should alarm everyone.”
The NAACP South Dade branch issued a statement Tuesday condemining the governor's actions.
"As the only Black female elected State Attorney in the state of Florida, we cannot ignore the optics of this decision, as well as the timing — seeing that Governor DeSantis' floundering presidential campaign has been dominating headlines," said Diego Lazcano, the group's communications chair. "Governor DeSantis' decision to remove State Attorney Worrell is a clear attempt to silence her and intimidate other prosecutors who may be considering progressive policies."
Florida's congresssional Democrats issued a joint statement demanding DeSantis reinstate Worrell, calling it "another partisan, political attack" by the governor.
“State Attorney Monique Worrell was duly elected by the people of Orange and Osceola counties. The Governor does not have the right to dismiss an elected official from office just because she’s not serving his radical, political agenda—that’s not grounds for suspension."
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, the state's former Agriculture secretary, said the governor "has gone too far” in a statement on Tuesday.
“Monique Worrell is a devoted public servant — one who was elected overwhelmingly by her constituents," said Fried. "This political hit job threatens our democracy and undermines the will of the people."
DeSantis last year removed State Attorney Andrew Warren, a twice-elected Democrat in Tampa, over his signing of pledges that he would not pursue criminal charges against seekers or providers of abortion or gender transition treatments, as well as policies about not bringing charges for certain low-level crimes.
The governor appointed Andrew Bain, an Orange County judge, to replace Worrell. Bain previously served as assistant state attorney in Orlando.
“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,” DeSantis said.
Bain said the job is quite “simple.” He said, “We are here to prosecute crimes and to hold people accountable.”
WLRN staff contributed to this story.
