Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell, which was announced during an early morning news conference, has sparked a furious response from Democrats across the state.
DeSantis said he removed Worrell because she had neglected her duty when it came to prosecuting crimes, including failing to seek mandatory minimums for gun crimes and drug trafficking and allowing juvenile offenders to avoid serious charges.
But Worrell, who was first elected State Attorney in Orange and Osceola counties in 2020, blasted DeSantis and called it a politically motivated decision designed to help the Republican Governor’s stalled presidential campaign. She also vowed to seek a second term in 2024.
Seven of Florida’s eight Democrats in Congress have also come to Worrell’s defense. In a statement, the members said: “This is another partisan, political attack by Florida’s Governor that ignores the will of the people. 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. We demand the Governor reinstate her immediately.”
Meanwhile, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo urged that senators refrain from commenting on the case in case Worrell challenges her suspension in the Florida Senate. “In my view, senators should refrain from speaking publicly about the merits or substance of any executive suspension,” the Naples Republican wrote in a memo.
Sen. Linda Stewart, an Orlando Democrat, largely followed that advice by saying she wanted to be an “impartial juror” although she did say “I do not believe the suspension today is what our democracy was meant to look like.”
But Sen. Victor Torres, another Orlando Democrat, ripped into DeSantis, saying he acted against the will of the voters.
“The Governor is distracted by his flailing political ambitions outside of the state,” Torres said. “In this morning’s news conference, the Florida flag was notably missing from the Cabinet room. Now it appears he is exploiting public facilities to advance his personal, political agenda, at the expense of democracy for all Floridians.”
Evening Reads
—“Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell from office” via Christopher Cann of the Orlando Sentinel
—”DeSantis defies tradition with aggressive approach to suspending elected officials” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times
—“Worrell slams ‘weak dictator’ DeSantis, vows to pursue re-election” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
—“DeSantis, with a subtle maneuver, hides his small-dollar donations” via Rebecca Davis O’Brien and Shane Goldmacher of The New York Times
—”Donald Trump’s emerging defense in the 2020 Election case, explained and picked apart by legal experts” via Nicole Narea of Vox
—“Trump’s allies prepare for indictments in Georgia probe: ‘They’re coming for everyone’” via Adam Rawnsley and Asawin Suebsaeng of Rolling Stone
—“Trump’s 2024 campaign plans collide with strategy to stay out of jail” via Alex Leary of The Wall Street Journal
—“The GOP’s belated — but growing — admission that Trump lost” via Aaron Blake of The Washington Post
—“Students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds” via Elaine S. Povich of the Florida Phoenix
—“Why conservatives absolutely hate the U.S. women’s soccer team” via Luke Winkie of Slate
—“I was wrong about trigger warnings” via Jill Filipovic of The Atlantic
Quote of the Day
“I guess today it’s my turn.”
— State Attorney Monique Worrell, on her suspension from office.
Bill Day’s latest
Breakthrough Insights
___
Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
