Progressive prosecutor Andrew Warren sues Gov. Ron DeSantis over suspension – ‘DeSantis went too far’

Andrew Warren, a Florida prosecutor and Democrat, was suspended earlier this month for announcing that he refused to prosecute cases that violated his political beliefs. On Tuesday, Warren filed a lawsuit against DeSantis for allegedly violating his First Amendment rights, the Associated Press reported.

The prosecutor was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. DeSantis suspended Warren from office, accusing him of “neglect of duty” when Warren stated that he would not uphold the laws of the state in cases of abortion and child sex-change operations.

The Florida governor declared that prosecutors are allowed to use their discretion when deciding whether or not to prosecute a case but that a “blanket refusal” to pursue any cases involving abortion or gender reassignment surgery for children violates the oath of office.

Warren pushed back during a press conference the day after his suspension was announced, stating, “Just based on the governor’s track record with unconstitutional orders, I have a feeling that this is going to be just as unconstitutional.”

In Warren’s lawsuit, he stated that there was no legal justification for DeSantis to remove him from his position and that he should be reinstated. Instead, the prosecutor alleged that the suspension was nothing more than political retaliation for speaking out against the governor’s policies.

“DeSantis went too far. Employing the powers of his esteemed office as a weapon to suppress criticism and promote cronyism,” the lawsuit read.... (Read more)

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