Ron DeSantis suspends Monique Worrell for being ‘soft on crime’

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sensationally suspended Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrel from her job Wednesday for “neglect of duty and incompetence.”

Worrell, a Democrat, was the chief prosecutor for Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.

DeSantis announced his decision during a press conference at the state’s capitol in Tallahassee.

“The state of Florida is a law-and-order state,” DeSantis said. “Refusing to faithfully enforce the laws of Florida puts our communities in danger and victimizes innocent Floridians.”

Local police unions also accused Worrell of being “soft on crime.” They openly called out the top prosecutor for not prosecuting Danton Viel, who was arrested in March for sexually assaulting a child but was released on bond.

“He was on probation at the time of his arrest, yet Monique Worrell let him out,” said the Orlando police union in a recent Facebook Post about Viel.

“Now 2 Orlando Police Officers’ lives have changed forever. Monique Worrell’s soft on crime stance has, yet again, let the citizens of Orlando down.”

Worrell’s suspension is the second time DeSantis has used his authority to suspend a top prosecutor. He also suspended Tampa-area prosecutor Andrew Warren in August 2022 after Warren said he would not charge individuals under Florida’s 15-week abortion ban.

Both Worrell and Warren’s 2020 campaigns were backed by Democratic megadonor George Soros.

Worrell held her own press conference after the governor’s, calling the his decision to remove her from her post as a “loss of democracy.”

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

“There used to be a very high standard for the removal of elected officials. There used to be a standard that I would have had to been criminally prosecuted for something, neglecting my duties, meaning that I don’t show up for work and do my job, or that I had some sort of an illness that prevented me from doing my job.

“But under this tyranny, elected officials can be removed simply for political purposes and by a whim of the governor and no matter how you feel about me, you should not be okay with that.”

Worrell also said she plans to run for reelection.