TAMPA, Fla. — More than 24 hours since Governor Ron DeSantis made his announcement to droop State Attorney Andrew Warren; there have been questions on what’s subsequent.
Warren addressed his plans transferring ahead on Friday, saying he’s “going to fight this.”
“The prosecutor, State Attorney for this judicial circuit, Andrew Warren, has put himself publicly above the law,” mentioned Governor DeSantis at a press convention Thursday.
An Executive Order signed by DeSantis laid out their case, “Warren’s declared refusal to prosecute abortion cases is alone sufficient to justify his suspension and removal for neglect of duty and incompetence” and that “Warren’s avowed refusal to enforce certain criminal laws on a non-individualized, category-wide basis of his choosing is a neglect of duty in violation of his oath….”
ABC Action News requested information from the Governor’s Office used to justify the suspension, together with particular circumstances. We haven’t but acquired a response.
“Be clear: I’m going to fight this,” mentioned Warren.
During a name Friday morning, Warren addressed his suspension. He mentioned he doesn’t know the way lengthy the suspension will or may final. ABC Action News requested him what’s subsequent and the way he plans to transfer ahead.
“I want to continue serving the people as I was elected to do. Unfortunately, yesterday, an armed deputy escorted me out of my office with no warning, not even a chance to read the order. This was something that wasn’t planned,” mentioned Warren. “My concern over the past 24 hours has been making sure that the office continues doing the work that we’ve been doing for the past five and a half years to keep our community safe.”
Warren mentioned within the coming days; they’ll be exploring their authorized choices to problem this.
“He’s not just trying to suspend an elected official. He’s trying to overthrow democracy in Hillsborough County,” mentioned Warren.
In the interim, the Governor appointed Susan Lopez as Acting State Attorney.
“She’s very familiar with how it operates,” mentioned Janae Thomas. “Hopefully, the transition is seamless.”
Thomas is an legal professional who’s beforehand labored with each Warren and Lopez. She weighed in concerning the transition for the workplace and what the folks of Hillsborough County ought to know.
“The State Attorney’s Office has been functioning for a long time, and I’ve worked beside many of those individuals, including Ms. Lopez, and I think that they should be confident that the work that is supposed to be getting done in the State Attorney’s Office is still going to happen,” mentioned Thomas.
The State Attorney’s Office tells ABC Action News whereas State Attorney Lopez is acclimating to her new position, she shall be out there to the media within the coming days.