This morning the Orange/Osceola elected State Attorney Monique Worrell was in court in Polk County as a Grand Jury convened. Right now it is unclear why she was in court.
Worrell was elected in 2020 as the State Attorney for Orange and Osceola Counties. Although voters elected her to the role, Worrell was removed from office by Governor Ron DeSantis and replaced with Andrew Bain. Shortly after the 2024 election, Bain’s administration has made comments about refusing to leave office against the will of the voters.
This is a developing story.
Update Below
A statement from members of the Orange County Legislative Delegation issued the following press release today.
ORLANDO, FL (January 3, 2025) — As members of the Orange County Legislative Delegation, we are deeply troubled by the apparent state investigation into our duly elected State Attorney Monique Worrell. Though we do not know the full details of the grand jury proceedings at hand, we are alarmed by their suspicious timing just days before Worrell’s oath of office and by what appears to be yet another politically motivated effort by Governor Ron DeSantis to undermine the will of the people.
State Attorney Worrell was overwhelmingly re-elected by the voters of Orange and Osceola Counties — defeating Ron DeSantis’s handpicked appointee — to serve as a voice for justice and fairness in our community. Any attempt to circumvent or disrupt her ability to perform her duties not only threatens the integrity of our democratic processes but also disenfranchises the voters who entrusted her with this responsibility.
It is unacceptable to weaponize the powers of state government and the justice system to target political opponents and undo the will of the voters. Such actions jeopardize the livelihood and safety of our constituents and undermine public confidence in our institutions. We call on all leaders to respect the voices of the citizens of Orange and Osceola Counties and to prioritize fair and equitable administration of justice over political agendas.
We remain committed to standing with the people of our communities and protecting the democratic principles that ensure their voices are heard.
Senator Geraldine Thompson
Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith
Senator Kristen Arrington
Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis
Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, PhD
Rep. Johanna López
Rep. Jennifer “Rita” Harris
Rep. Leonard Spencer
