Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that he has suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren for refusing to enforce some of the state’s laws, including the recently enacted 15-week abortion ban.
The Republican governor claimed that by declaring he won’t enforce some of Florida’s most contentious laws, Warren has “placed himself publicly above the law” during a press conference in front of deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Democratic state attorneys from all throughout the country, including Warren, signed a statement pledging not to charge those who get or administer abortions. The 15-week restriction in Florida has been referred to as “arbitrary” and “unconstitutional” by him.
“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 on Thursday. “It is my duty to hold Florida’s elected officials to the highest standards for the people of Florida. 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 that Warren was actively seeking to “nullify laws that were established by the people’s representatives” and refusing to implement some state laws in the executive order on Warren’s suspension.
In order to safeguard the life of the unborn child, DeSantis highlighted that Warren, a Democrat, has stated: “in writing that he will not prosecute individuals who deliver abortions in violation of Florida’s criminal laws.”
Other local officials, such as Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, who complained that the state attorney “seems intently focused on empathy for criminals and less interested in pursuing justice for crime victims,” expressed their displeasure with Warren’s decision not to prosecute specific cases at the press conference.
“We have a governor that will defend us,” Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco added.
On Wednesday night, DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw teased the announcement, saying it would cause “the liberal media meltdown of the year,” in a Thursday tweet.
“Progressive prosecutors backed by Soros have refused to enforce laws across the country, they treat criminals with deference & victims with contempt. This dereliction of duty is why crime is surging. But @GovRonDeSantis won’t stand for this. He just suspended the one in Florida,” Pushaw wrote.
Governor Ron DeSantis makes an announcement about law enforcement. https://t.co/LfTJ4cUxMJ
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 4, 2022
