DeSantis suspends Democratic State Attorney Monique Worrell, cites dereliction of duty

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell from the ninth Judicial Circuit with Attorney General Ashley Moody and members of Florida’s law enforcement.

“We had a duty to act – to protect the public from this dereliction of duty,” the governor said.

The governor’s office stated that the main factors that played into the suspension included Worrell avoiding minimum mandatory sentencing for gun crimes and drug trafficking offenses, while limiting charges for child pornography and ignoring “valid and applicable” sentencing enhancements.

“I’m appointing Judge Andrew Bain to take over as state attorney for the ninth judicial circuit,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis explained that Bain is currently a judge in Orlando, a native Floridian, and a law degree recipient from University of Miami.

“Monique Worrell’s administration of criminal justice in the ninth circuit has been clearly and fundamentally derelict, so as to constitute both neglect of duty and incompetence,” he added.

Moody said Worrell was “abdicating her responsibility” as the circuit’s top prosecutor and that in-turn, undermining the state’s law and legal system.

“Ms. Worrell, the state attorney in the ninth circuit has dismissed more charges of defense than any other state attorney in the state of Florida during the same period,” she stated.

“From January 2021 through June of 2022, the latest publicly available data on the state court administrator’s website, Ms. Worrell dismissed or did not prosecute criminal cases against 16,236 adult defendants.”

This is not the first time DeSantis has suspended a state attorney.

In 2022, DeSantis also suspended State Attorney Andrew Warren of the 13th Judicial Circuit for failing to prosecute certain crimes and vowing not to enforce laws relating to restrictions on abortion and sex change operations for children.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stated that DeSantis “always” puts the victims and law-abiding citizens ahead of the criminals.

“Judge Bain is going to get after these criminals, like the people he did on the football field,” Judd said in reference to Bain’s time as an athlete at University of Miami. “He was an all-star on the football field, he’s going to be an all-star as the state attorney.”

“And none of this would have been possible if we didn’t have a governor, Governor DeSantis, who said ‘I’m going to do what’s right,’” Judd said.

“[DeSantis] has zero tolerance for crime, and even less for criminals. I’m honored to stand here today and watch the action he’s taking to save lives,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.

Bain explained that some of his top priorities as state attorney include restoring order, faith in the law, and the relationships with his fellow justice partners and law enforcement.

“We are here to prosecute crimes and to hold people accountable,” he said. “My plan is to bring back that simple understanding.”

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., shared on social media that DeSantis’ decision was the “right move.”

“Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies are eroding our communities and families’ ability to feel safe,” he said.

Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., took to X as he attacked the governor’s decision for removing Worrell.

“WE WILL NOT stand for this blatant abuse of power and fascism in our state,” he exclaimed. “It’s a sad day in Orange Country & Florida.”