2023-08-09 19:37:35
This content was published on August 9, 2023 – 19:33 August 9, 2023 – 19:33
(Update with new data)
Miami, Aug 9 (EFE).- The governor of Florida (USA), Ron DeSantis, announced this Wednesday the suspension “with immediate effect” of state attorney Monique H. Worrell, an African-American who in her first reaction crossed out the Republican president as a “dictator” and alleged that it is a “political” decision.
DeSantis, a candidate in the Republican primary for the 2024 general election, accused Worrell of failing to impose mandatory sentences for drug and gun offenses.
“The state of Florida is a law and order state and that means we have strong policies to hold criminals accountable for their misconduct,” DeSantis said.
“Prosecutors have a duty to faithfully enforce the law. One’s political agenda cannot overcome this solemn duty,” the governor added.
In a subsequent statement, the governor’s office argued “dereliction of duty and incompetence” in Worrell’s performance, the second case of a suspended state attorney, since DeSantis removed Andrew Warren in August 2022 for saying he did not it would prosecute cases related to the prohibition of abortion after 15 weeks of gestation.
In the same statement, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said Worrell “abdicated his responsibility as the circuit’s chief prosecutor and his actions undermine the safety of our state and Floridians.”
Worrell was elected three years ago as state’s attorney for the state’s 9th judicial circuit court, which includes Orange and Osceola counties.
In a press conference, Worrell said that in Florida, elected officials “are being removed from office solely for political purposes and that should not happen.”
“If we’ve learned anything this morning, it’s the loss of democracy. I’m your state’s attorney-elect for the 9th judicial circuit and nothing a weak dictator does can change that,” Worrell told reporters outside the New York City Courthouse. orange county.
“I didn’t hide, I didn’t say things and then I didn’t do them, I didn’t say I wouldn’t do things and then I did them. I did exactly what I said I was going to do and that’s what you expect from an elected official,” he said.
DEMOCRATS ARE OPPOSED
In a separate statement, the Florida Democratic Party called the governor’s order an “unfounded suspension.”
“Just a few days ago, Monique (H. Worrell) spoke out against Florida’s new educational standards — standards that will teach our children that there was some kind of benefit to slavery,” said Nikki Fried, leader of that party. in Florida.
Fried criticized the DeSantis campaign for using it to “assault law and order in favor of their culture wars” and demanded Worrell’s “immediate reinstatement” on behalf of Democratic Party constituents.
“Ron’s extremist administration has consistently focused on going against the rights and freedoms of black Floridians, and the suspension of State Attorney Worrell, the only black state attorney in Florida, is clearly racially and politically motivated,” he said. Fried.
Worrell also had the support today of the other state attorney suspended by DeSantis, Andrew Warren, who affirmed that it is an “illegal and unconstitutional attack on democracy.”
“This is another illegal and unconstitutional attack on democracy by a scared little man who is desperate to save his presidential campaign,” wrote X Warren, who was removed by DeSantis as Hillsborough County prosecutor, on the social network.
Following the announcement of Worrell’s suspension, DeSantis said he appointed Judge Andrew Bain to take over as state’s attorney for the 9th Judicial Circuit Court.
“I am confident that he will be a prosecutor who will faithfully enforce the law and keep Central Florida communities safe,” DeSantis said. EFE
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