GOP field quiet on DeSantis’ suspension of Soros-backed state attorney

Eric Daugherty contributed to this report.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The 2024 Republican presidential primary field remained quiet in light of Gov. Ron DeSantis suspending another Democratic state attorney with ties to billionaire liberal donor George Soros.

DeSantis suspended Monique Worrell from her office Wednesday morning.

Digging into social media profiles and news reports on the top candidates in the presidential primary field on the Republican side since the suspension, Florida’s Voice could not find DeSantis’ Republican counterparts giving praise to a typically unifying conservative issue.

Those major candidates include former President Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Chris Christie, all of which poll above 2% nationally, per RealClearPolitics.

Top factors that played into DeSantis’ 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.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who has remained neutral thus far in the primary, immediately sang praise for DeSantis’ actions.

“This is the right move,” Scott said. “Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies are eroding our communities and families’ ability to feel safe.”

Scott harkened back to February, when he demanded Worrell’s office “deliver the justice and accountability needed for the families affected by shootings in her district.”

At the time, an alleged shooter with a criminal history was not put behind bars for an adult offense prior to reportedly killing three people. Scott noted he believed at that time, suspending Worrell “would be fully justified.”

“She failed to do her job. Families deserve better,” he said.

Previously, a Florida Republican who has since endorsed Trump over DeSantis gave praise to the governor for clamping down on Soros-backed, “far-left” district attorneys.

“Thanks to @GovRonDeSantis we have no issues with radical, far-left DA’s,” U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds said in March.

Donalds’ statement came well before DeSantis’ suspension of Worrell this week, but after he had already suspended former State Attorney Andrew Warren, who was also “backed by Soros.”

“Andrew Warren has put himself publicly above the law,” DeSantis declared in 2022. “He said it doesn’t matter what the state legislature does in Florida, he’s going to exercise a veto over that.”

DeSantis’ record on opposing Soros dates further back in 2022, when his gubernatorial election campaign had launched a radio ad that warned South Florida Hispanics of Soros buying out other radio stations.

“They are coming with their ideological agenda. Soros and his minions know what this community represents in the fight against socialism in America. This community will not get confused,” the ad said.

Facing blowback from suspending Worrell, the Democrat took to the press shortly after her suspension and called the governor a “tyrant.”

“This is an outrage,” she said. “There used to be a very high standard for the removal of elected officials,” Worrell commented, referring to DeSantis as a “dictator.”

“Three years ago, I was elected by the people of the ninth Judicial Circuit to to lead this circuit,” Worrell added. “And yes, to do things unconventionally. To do things differently.”

DeSantis appointed Judge Andrew Bain to Worrell’s position after he suspended her during a surprise announcement.