Monique Worrell calls DeSantis a ‘dictator’ over suspension

ORLANDO, Fla. (FLV) – Former State Attorney Monique Worrell provided statements in a press conference following her immediate suspension by Gov. Ron DeSantis Wednesday.

“This is an outrage […] 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,” she said. “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.

“Elected officials are being taken out of offices solely for political purposes and that should never be a thing,” Worrell stated.

“This is simply a smokescreen for DeSantis’ failing and disastrous presidential campaign,” she continued. “He needed to get back in the media in some positive way that would be red meat for his base.”

Worrell reassured the residents of the ninth judicial district that she is planning to take legal action and even run again for the elected position, if needed.

She argued that Orange County and the ninth Judicial Circuit have become safer while she has been in office.

“So while they are giving a false narrative that I have failed to prosecute and I have lead to people not being able to be protected in this community, the statistics show that people are now more protected then ever under my leadership in the last three years,” Worrell said.

The governor’s office highlighted several areas where Worrell allegedly failed to uphold her oath as a prosecutor, including avoiding minimum mandatory sentencing for gun crimes and drug trafficking offenses, limiting charges for child pornography and ignoring “valid and applicable” sentencing enhancements.

“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 said.

Attorney General Ashley Moody, who attended the DeSantis announcement, added that Worrell was “abdicating her responsibility” as the circuit’s top prosecutor and that in-turn, undermining the state’s law and legal system.

“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,” she said.

Democratic elected officials in central Florida took to social media in defense of the Worrell.

“[Worrell’s] removal is a complete slap in the face to Orange and Osceola County residents and another example of Governor DeSantis eroding our local control and democracy,” state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said.

U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., stated that he will not stand for the “blatant abuse of power and fascism” in the state of Florida. He later announced to his followers and supporters that he plans on “rallying in Orlando” on Thursday night in order to “protect democracy.”