Florida governor suspends prosecutor over new abortion law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended the elected state prosecutor of Tampa on Thursday for pledging not to enforce the state's new 15-week abortion ban and for supporting gender transition treatments for minors.
The Republican governor announced the suspension of Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren at a news conference in the county's sheriff's office, where DeSantis and law enforcement officers criticized Warren for not prosecuting certain crimes.
'œWhen you flagrantly violate your oath of office, when you make yourself above the law, you have violated your duty, you have neglected your duty and you are displaying a lack of competence to be able to perform those duties," DeSantis said to cheers.
The suspension comes as DeSantis runs for reelection in Florida and builds his national profile as a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate through near constant criticism of liberal policies on abortion, policing and other culture war issues.
Warren, a Democrat, was elected as state attorney by Hillsborough County voters in 2016 and in 2020. In a statement, Warren said 'œthe people have the right to elect their own leaders - not have them dictated by an aspiring presidential candidate who has shown time and again he feels accountable to no one.'ť
'œToday's political stunt is an illegal overreach that continues a dangerous pattern by Ron DeSantis of using his office to further his own political ambition. It spits in the face of the voters of Hillsborough County who have twice elected me to serve them, not Ron DeSantis," he said.
In an executive order formally suspending Warren, DeSantis focused heavily on Warren's signing of statements where prosecutors from across the country said they won't use their offices to pursue criminal cases against seekers or providers of abortion or gender transition treatments.
Florida has not enacted laws criminalizing gender transition treatments for minors but 'œthese statements prove that Warren thinks he has the authority to defy the Florida Legislature and nullify in his jurisdiction criminal laws with which he disagrees,'ť the executive order reads.
The state's new abortion restriction became effective July 1. It prohibits abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions if the procedure is necessary to save the pregnant woman's life, prevent serious injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. It does not allow exemptions in cases where pregnancies were caused by rape, incest or human trafficking.
Violators could face up to five years in prison. Physicians and other medical professionals could lose their licenses and face administrative fines of $10,000 for each violation.
The executive order also accuses Warren of having a 'œflawed and lawless understanding of his duties as a state attorney'ť in his 'œpresumptive non-enforcement for certain criminal violations, including trespassing at a business location, disorderly conduct, disorderly intoxication, and prostitution.'ť
'œThe governor's suspension of State Attorney Warren is not political to me. It's about law and order. It's about ensuring our loved ones are safe. It's about the victims and their voices,'ť said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. He said Warren has been acting as a kind of 'œsupreme authority by reducing charges, dropping cases and singlehandedly determining what crimes will be legal or illegal in our county.'ť
Asked whether he's overriding the will of the voters by suspending their choice for prosecutor, DeSantis said Warren's conduct has fallen 'œbelow the standard of the Florida Constitution'ť and that he's neglected his duty to state law.
'œI don't think the people of Hillsborough County want to have an agenda that is basically woke, where you're deciding that your view of social justice means certain laws shouldn't be enforced,'ť the governor said.
Rep. Fentrice Driskell, a Tampa Democrat and leader-designate of the Florida House Democratic Caucus, said Warren has been using his prosecutorial discretion appropriately.
'œI'm not going to mince words: this is a shocking political attack on an elected official serving the people of Hillsborough County,'ť she said. 'œAndrew Warren is being removed because he assured our community that he will not be a foot soldier in Ron DeSantis' extremist agenda.'ť
DeSantis appointed Hillsborough County Judge Susan Lopez to serve in Warren's place during his suspension.
'œI 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,'ť Lopez said.