Suspended Florida prosecutor slams ruling by DeSantis-packed court as endorsing governor’s ‘political stunt’

Left: Suspended Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell (WFTV/YouTube); Right: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (Photo by Paul Hennessy / SOPA Images/Sipa USA).

In one of the few highlights for Democrats in what is now a bright red Sunshine State, voters in the Orlando area reelected a progressive prosecutor that Gov. Ron DeSantis had previously suspended.

Democrat Monique Worrell received about 57% of the vote over Independent Andrew Bain, the man DeSantis picked to replace her with in the Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in August 2023. The circuit encompasses Orange and Osceola counties in central Florida.

“I feel vindicated,” Worrell told the Orlando Sentinel. “Tonight the voters have vindicated me. Let’s just hope the governor will respect the will of the voters this time.”

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Bain conceded the race.

“With an exceptional team of both seasoned prosecutors and passionate young attorneys, we will continue to work we have started,” Bain said in a statement. “Together, we will fight for justice, pursue fairness and ensure that every decision made from this office priorities the safety and well-being of the people.”

A DeSantis spokesman did not immediately return an email from Law&Crime seeking comment about whether he plans to reinstate Worrell. He suspended her via executive order for alleged “neglect of duty” and “incompetence.”

In his order, the governor accused Worrell of having abused her prosecutorial discretion by systematically failing to seek mandatory minimum sentences under Florida law, and for not fully prosecuting repeat criminal offenders. DeSantis’s order prohibited Worrell from performing any acts, duties, or functions of public office, and suspended her indefinitely without pay.

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