Gray Rohrer
Andrew Warren, the Democratic Hillsborough County State Attorney suspended by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, sent a letter to the Governor asking to rescind the suspension and reinstate him as a prosecutor.
The move comes after last week’s ruling from Tallahassee federal court Judge Robert Hinkle, which upheld the suspension but found DeSantis violated Warren’s First Amendment rights to free speech. Hinkle determined DeSantis would have suspended Warren anyway based on his actions, not just to silence a progressive prosecutor.
“The judge’s ruling is crystal clear: the governor’s accusations against me were totally false and the suspension was illegal,” Warren said in a released statement. “I think if you ask anyone who believes in the rule of law, they’ll tell you what the governor should do is obvious.”
Hinkle also found DeSantis overstepped his authority under the state constitution in suspending Warren, who had been twice elected by Hillsborough County voters to be State Attorney. But because he was a federal judge, the Eleventh Amendment prevented him from reinstating Warren on that basis and referred that matter to state courts to adjudicate.
Warren hasn’t yet said if he’ll appeal the ruling. For now, he’s asking DeSantis to give him his job back.
“After a full and fair trial concerning my suspension, with unlimited time and a full array of federal discovery available to your office to demonstrate otherwise, a United States District Court has emphatically stated that I had executed my duties under the law without a hint of misconduct and that my suspension violates the United States and Florida Constitutions,” Warren wrote in the letter.
“Accordingly, pursuant to your oath of office to uphold both constitutions and your solemn duty to execute Florida law faithfully — including your power to suspend local officials — I respectfully request that you voluntarily reinstate me as Hillsborough County’s duly elected state attorney for the remainder of my four-year term without delay.”
Warren was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. DeSantis replaced him with Republican Susan Lopez.
Under the Florida Constitution, the Governor has the power to remove local officials from office for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence, drunkenness, the incapability of performing their duties or the commission of a felony.
The state Senate, though, has the power to uphold the suspension and permanently remove them from office or reinstate the official. The Senate’s process, though, is on hold until the legal wrangling over the suspension plays out.
12 comments
T.Buckley
January 25, 2023 at 1:02 pm
It’s clear that Desantis does not honor his oath or Florida’s constitution. Then we must assume he would do the same as President to the U.S constitution and would not be fit for the office of President. He may be held high in Florida, but I don’t think he will do as great nationally. Think citizens are going to have their eyes open wider. Good luck in 2024 if he is the Republicans choice for president.
Todd Crickmore
January 25, 2023 at 1:11 pm
His neofascism and anti-democratic schtick will not play at all nationally. The only reason it’s played so well in Florida is because all the conservat*rd sh*theads from the rest of the country have settled here-making Florida the veritable toilet of the US!
Conservative always
January 25, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Everywhere you go in this country (Utah, California, NH, Ohio, MI)
all say the same thing. You live in FL? You have the absolute best Governor in the country.
Todd Crickmore
January 25, 2023 at 2:19 pm
@Conservative always
Apparently, you must exist inside the same echo chamber that DeSantis himself does. Outside of that incel hard right bubble, DeSantis is HATED.
Susan Long
January 28, 2023 at 8:06 pm
I agree. DeSantis doesn’t care about the rules/law, he cares about his own career.
Robert
January 25, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Well said, I agree with your comment
Robertawitzel
January 25, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Not in my opinion.
Rocko
January 25, 2023 at 2:46 pm
Desantis is 100%correct on his decision,
Warren is a cocky individual that should of followed the Florida law – BEVIS
IMAGINE ANDREW GILLIAM AS FL GOV , LORDY LORDY
RON DISANTIS AMERICAN HERO A TRUE WARRIOR A MAN TO LOOK UP TO THATS WHY I VOTED FOR THIS GREAT MAN , THANK YOU MR DESANTIS
G. Fardella
January 26, 2023 at 4:43 am
Here are some questions for Andrew Warren: will you swear to uphold all of Florida’s laws, especially the ones on bail, abortion and rioting after the George Floyd incident? Or will you pick and choose which Florida laws you will enforce, there by going easy on rioters, not enforcing anti-abortion statues and other cases which our Governor determined you handled incorrectly? In short, have you changed your ways or will you continue tyo use personal bias in handling cases?
G. Fardella
January 26, 2023 at 4:44 am
Here are some questions for Andrew Warren: will you swear to uphold all of Florida’s laws, especially the ones on bail, abortion and rioting after the George Floyd incident? Or will you pick and choose which Florida laws you will enforce, there by going easy on rioters, not enforcing anti-abortion statues and other cases which our Governor determined you handled incorrectly? In short, have you changed your ways or will you continue to use personal bias in handling cases?
No way
January 29, 2023 at 4:41 pm
“Will you swear to uphold Floridas laws”
Why? If the governor wont no one should lol
Boaz
February 4, 2023 at 2:36 am
When I travel around the country, you meet people and make small talk. Invariably, you ask or are asked the state of residency. Every time I’m asked, I answer Florida; and as soon as I do, people say “Ron DeSantis … America’s Governor.” It’s anecdotal; but it’s a real-world experience, not within a bubble of like-minded people.
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