Upholding the Law: Governor DeSantis Takes Action Against Orlando Prosecutor’s Failures

In bold fashion, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, on Wednesday, officially suspended Monique Worrell, the top prosecutor in Orlando, for her alleged failure to enforce the law against criminals, leading to a surge in criminal activity, including violent crimes and murders.

Governor DeSantis, a law-and-order governor, made it clear his decision was rooted in the imperative duty of prosecutors to faithfully enforce the law. He stated,

“Prosecutors have a duty to faithfully enforce the law. One’s political agenda cannot trump this solemn duty. Refusing to faithfully enforce the laws of Florida puts our communities in danger and victimizes innocent Floridians.”

#BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends Democratic State Attorney Monique Worrell, effective immediately, citing lack of mandatory minimum sentencings for various crimes, neglect of duty, and abusing discretion pic.twitter.com/O0Pe1UbTVH

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 9, 2023

The following is Governor’s Executive Order for suspending replacing Monique Worrell, as well as supporting documents Exhibits A and B.

Worrell’s tenure as Florida state attorney for the 9th Judicial Circuit has been marred by allegations of inadequate prosecution. Startling statistics revealed that she failed to prosecute 43% of arrests, leading to the release of 16,243 defendants without facing charges. Even more concerning, violent felonies were only prosecuted 41% of the time. State Attorney General Ashley Moody highlighted these statistics and raised questions about the effectiveness of Worrell’s office in ensuring public safety.

Moody criticized Worrell’s dismissive approach, stating, “It is not normal for a prosecutor to come out repeatedly after we have seen tragedy strike and insinuate, ‘It’s not my fault.’ I submit to you this was, in a way, to distract from where fault should have lay.” The failure to prosecute cases effectively, even those involving violent felonies, has led to tragic consequences, including instances where defendants who were not prosecuted went on to commit serious crimes, including murder.

One chilling example provided by Governor DeSantis involves a 17-year-old who was arrested for criminal possession of a firearm. Worrell chose not to prosecute, and the teenager later shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend. Similarly, another criminal accused of sex abuse of a minor was released on bond by Worrell, only to later kill two police officers.

The governor emphasized that his decision to suspend Worrell was not taken lightly and was aimed at safeguarding public safety. He asserted, “I have no doubt that today’s decision is not only consistent with the Constitution and laws of Florida, that we have a right to act. We had a duty to act to protect the public from this dereliction of duty.”

Varied Responses to Worrell’s Suspension and Political Connections

The removal of Worrell from her position has drawn mixed reactions. Florida Sheriff Grady Judd highlighted the issue of criminals feeling emboldened by the lack of consequences, stating, “I’ll just shoot them because, heck, after all, I probably won’t go to jail.” This sentiment underscores the broader concerns about maintaining law and order within communities.

While supporters of DeSantis applauded his swift action in upholding the principles of justice and accountability, Worrell defended her record as “unconventional” and “doing things differently.” She criticized her removal as politically motivated and questioned the high standard required for the removal of elected officials. Worrell’s association with billionaire George Soros, who provided her with election funding, further adds a layer of complexity to the situation.

JUST IN: Suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell calls Gov. Ron DeSantis a "dictator"

"This is an outrage […] There used to be a very high standard for the removal of elected officials."

"Under this tyranny, elected officials can be removed simply for political purposes."… pic.twitter.com/SuzrbreZpu

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 9, 2023

Governor DeSantis’s decision to suspend Monique Worrell is part of his larger effort to address crime and its consequences. His determination to ensure that public safety remains a top priority aligns with his previous actions to hold accountable those responsible for maintaining law and order.