On Aug. 9, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) decided to suspend State Attorney Monique Worrell on account that she was failing to “faithfully prosecute crimes in her jurisdiction.” In response, freshman Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) called for an Oversight Committee hearing to investigate “DeSantis’s unjust and unconstitutional suspension of Florida’s only democratically elected Black female State Attorney.”
In hopes of triggering an investigation, Representatives Frost, Dan Goldman (D-NY), and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) sent a letter to Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), calling Gov. DeSantis’s move “anti-democratic” and “modern day fascism and authoritarianism.”
The legislators wrote, “In light of alarming new anti-democratic actions taken by Governor Ron DeSantis, we once again urge you to hold a Committee hearing to examine ongoing efforts to subvert democracy in the State of Florida…Our concerns have gone unanswered and, without any oversight or accountability, the situation continues to worsen. Disturbingly, on August 9, 2023, Governor DeSantis suspended yet another democratically-elected State Attorney, Monique Worrell, from office in order to install a political ally.”
Rep. Frost and his colleagues would also mention, “Under its current administration, Florida’s executive and legislative branches of government have engaged in a relentless assault on the fundamental rights and freedoms of Floridians…Given the seriousness of the current attack on democracy and freedom in Florida and other states, the urgent need for Congressional action has become more dire than ever. A full Committee hearing is essential to understand the pattern of these abuses of power and to identify the steps that must be taken to protect the rights and freedoms of Floridians and Americans living in other states witnessing similar attacks.”
This is not the first instance of a Democratic lawmaker labeling this move as authoritarian.
Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) attributed the move to “Governor DeSantis’ abuse of power” that “knows no end.”
"Governor DeSantis’ abuse of power knows no end. His latest ousting of a duly-elected prosecutor undermines Floridians' sacred right to vote and our democratic values. Just last year, DeSantis put his political ambitions over Florida voters and suspended Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren in a politically craven and illegal move,” stated Rep. Castor.
She would also mention that State Attorney Worrell was “a trusted elected official.”
"While DeSantis is focused on making news headlines, he is costing Floridians a lot - higher bills, a real financial squeeze, and our ability to choose our own leaders. State Attorney Monique Worrell is a trusted elected official in Orange and Osceola counties. DeSantis continues to distract voters from his actions of wasting taxpayer dollars, ignoring skyrocketing costs for hard-working families, abusing his power, and wreaking havoc on students and schools,” Rep. Castor said.
DeSantis has tapped Andrew Bain to replace Worrell, who recently served as a county judge in the 9th Judicial Circuit and as the Assistant State Attorney in that jurisdiction.
This is a developing story.
