Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced Thursday that “effective immediately,” he is suspending liberal State Attorney Andrew Warren for refusing to uphold the state’s laws.
“State Attorneys have a duty to prosecute crimes as defined in Florida law, not to pick and choose which laws to enforce based on his personal agenda,” DeSantis said in a statement. “It is my duty to hold Florida’s elected officials to the highest standards for the people of Florida. I have the utmost trust that Judge Susan Lopez will lead the office through this transition and faithfully uphold the rule of law.”
In a release, the governor’s office said that he has the authority to do so under Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Florida and that he has appointed Susan Lopez to serve as State Attorney for the period of suspension.
Lopez, the state attorney of the 13th Judicial Circuit, said she has the “utmost respect for our state laws” and understands “the important role that the State Attorney plays in ensuring the safety of our community and the enforcement of our laws.”
Backed by numerous law enforcement and state officials, the governor argued in a Thursday press conference that Warren has repeatedly refused to enforce the state’s laws.
Governor Ron DeSantis makes an announcement about law enforcement. https://t.co/LfTJ4cUxMJ
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 4, 2022
“The constitution of Florida has vested the veto power in the governor, not in state attorneys,” DeSantis said at the press conference. “We are not going to allow this pathogen of ignoring the law to get a foothold in the state of Florida.”
DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw had teased the announcement on Wednesday evening, warning that the announcement would spark “the liberal media meltdown of the year.”
“Progressive prosecutors backed by Soros have refused to enforce laws across the country,” she said in a Thursday tweet. “They treat criminals with deference & victims with contempt. This dereliction of duty is why crime is surging. But @GovRonDeSantis won’t stand for this. He just suspended the one in Florida.”