- Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended state attorney Andrew Warren on Thursday after being accused of neglecting his sworn duty
- Warren notably pledged not to uphold the state’s recently-signed 15-week abortion law
- Susan Lopez has been appointed to fill Warren’s vacancy for the duration of his suspension
- Democrat leaders following the announcement expressed frustration and concern over the decision
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced that he is taking executive action to suspend Hillsborough County state attorney Andrew Warren. The governor stated that the suspension is due to a “neglect of duty.”
Notably, DeSantis claimed that Warren pledged not to enforce the state’s recently-passed 15-week abortion law, as well as signing letters saying that he would also not enforce laws prohibiting sex changes for minors.
The governor’s press release states that he has the authority under the Florida Constitution to suspend state officials for reasons of misfeasance, malfeasance, or neglect of duty.
State leaders and sheriffs stated Warren repeatedly tried to install himself as an arbiter of what laws will and will not be enforced within his jurisdiction.
“State Attorneys have a duty to prosecute crimes as defined in Florida law, not to pick and choose which laws to enforce based on his personal agenda,” DeSantis said. “It is my duty to hold Florida’s elected officials to the highest standards for the people of Florida.”
The announcement immediately drew reactions from lawmakers and similarly-elected officials across the state.
“Ron DeSantis, wannabe dictator, just suspended Florida State Attorney [Andrew Warren] for saying he wouldn’t prosecute Florida’s cruel and unacceptable 15-week abortion ban. This is outrageous and dangerous,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried.
Meanwhile, Florida Senate Democrat Leader Lauren Book took to Twitter to express dissatisfaction of the removal of an elected official.
“Authoritarian Governor Ron DeSantis just suspended a twice-elected Democratic State Attorney because he would not enforce Florida’s 15-week abortion ban,” said Book. “DeSantis continues to put his political career ahead of the beliefs of Floridians. Voters will hold him accountable.”
In wake of the measure, DeSantis appointed Hillsborough County Judge Susan Lopez to serve as acting state attorney during Warren’s suspension.
Lopez was appointed by the governor to serve as a Hillsborough County judge in 2021, previously serving as the Assistant State Attorney in the 13th Judicial Circuit.
“I have the utmost respect for our state laws and I understand the important role that the State Attorney plays in ensuring the safety of our community and the enforcement of our laws,” Lopez said. “I want to thank the Governor for placing his trust in me, and I promise that I will faithfully execute the duties of this office.”
Thank you Gov. DeSantis for ensuring that the laws of Florida are enforced.
The Governor is doing what he was elected and empowered to do, to lead the Executive branch of the State of Florida in ensuring that laws enacted by the Legislature are enforced by the Judicial branch. Pretty simple stuff, but there are a lot of simpletons out there that don’t understand basic civics.
No, we get the Governor’s privilege…even in overriding the attorney’s VOTERS! So, what we get are the Fascist laws passed by the Fascist GOP legislature and signed by the Fascist GOP governor. And, we’re going to vote him out!
Andrew Warren took an oath to uphold the laws of the state of Florida – all of them, not just the ones he likes.
You guys really don’t care how many people DeSantis sends to their deaths, do you? Hope you’re not of child bearing age, Karen, ’cause they’re going to let you die on the table if you’ve got a problem.
Cry more.
GOVERNOR DeSANTIS … T.Y. and BRAVO for TAKING A STAND ! NOW is this man’s SUSPENSION, POLITICAL? Is state attorney Andrew Warren a Democrat that you unilaterally suspended? Is Politics your MOTIVE or do you correct ALL the UNJUST regardless of their POLITICAL PARTY?
SPECIFICALLY, you appointed a female JUDGE, Renatha Francis in Palm Beach County to the BENCH, who is not qualified and who a Black Florida Representative says was chosen for “racial-tokenism”. Is this TRUE? Did you give this unexperienced woman POWER OVER the lives of Families and CHILDREN who she compromised per the COMMENTS? Have you IGNORED their COMPLAINTS that she is NOT FAITHFUL to the LAW and IGNORED their reports that she denied them CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS?? Did you SEE the NUMEROUS COMMENTS submitted to a truthful, NOT FOR PROFIT News Outlet — THE BULLDOG’s ONLINE paper?? Parents wrote comments REPORTING the Judge’s ABUSE to A BULLDOG Reporter. And they exposed this unqualified unjust JUDGE as a LYER on her Supreme Court STATE Application FALSELY denying COMPLAINTS were filed against her!! This is A CRIME –A MISDEMEANOR. WELL the complaints surfaced in the BULLDOG paper! How many MORE are out there?
Mr. Governor PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRULY interested in JUSTICE — Take a Stand and FIRE THE JUDGE who lied. WE THE PEOPLE are WATCHING to see if YOU a Lawyer, our Leader, are a PATRIOT who TRULY believes in the principle of EQUAL JUSTICE for ALL!!
THE CAPITOLIST — it’s your turn to expose the unjust, unqualified Judge who lied and remains a contender for the Supreme Court!