During the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida’s Conference on Saturday, suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell held a press conference firing back at Governor DeSantis.
The suspended duly elected State Attorney won her election in 2020 with 60% of the votes from Orange and Osceola County voters. But, Worrell was removed from office by Governor Ron DeSantis last year for allegations of not prosecuting violent offenders. DeSantis then appointed Andrew Bain, a Black man, who is a member of the Federalist Society. Bain is running in the 2024 election to continue his role as State Attorney. Worrell said, “The governor believes that he can just simply swap one Black person for another.” Worrell added, “Bain is giving the governor what he wants off of the backs of the individuals in this community.”
Last year, three people were killed, including a 9-year old girl, by gunman Keith Melvin Moses in Pine Hills. Nine-year old T’yonna Major was shot and killed when the gunman entered her home that morning. That day, the gunman also killed 38-year-old Nathacha Augustin and Spectrum 13 News television reporter Dylon Lyons who was only 24 years old. Others were injured in the shooting.
Moses had other run-ins with the law. But, according to Worrell those run-ins would not have kept him behind bars. In 2021 Moses was in the back seat of a vehicle that was stopped by Orange County Deputies. A gun was thrown from the vehicle Moses was in, but even though the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said they would test the for DNA, the gun was never tested. Worrell said she would be unable to successfully prosecute the suspect because the Sheriff’s office neglected to follow through with testing the evidence.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, expressed they were unhappy with Worrell’s lawful right to use her discretion to make decisions as the elected top-cop. After the governor received reports from both Orange and Osceola County Sheriff offices, DeSantis eventually suspended Worrell. Voters were left without a say in the matter. But this November, Worrell will be back on the ballot.
At Saturday’s press conference, Worrell asked voters for their support. Worrell said, “Everyday I have different individuals from the local Bar telling me how they can’t get anything done. Telling me how cases without evidence are being pushed to trial. Telling me how individuals are given longer incarcerative sentences without justification, just because they can.”
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told reporters DeSantis took away every person’s vote. Fried said, “Once again, Ron DeSantis has overstepped his power, has used the power of his office to remove a duly elected officer. Not because she broke any laws, not because she misstepped but because he didn’t agree with her policies.”
Worrell was joined by Tennessee Representative Justin J. Pierson who was unjustly expelled and then reinstated when a Republican led legislature voted to remove him and another legislator for protesting gun violence. Pierson praised Worrell for continuing to fight for justice even after her suspension. Pierson said, “To our State Attorney, who is going to win this election in November, we thank you for not letting nobody turn you ’round.”
In August of 2022 Governor DeSantis removed Democrat State Attorney Andrew Warren in Hillsborough County. In a press release DeSantis stated, “State Attorneys have a duty to prosecute crimes as defined in Florida law, not to pick and choose which laws to enforce based on his personal agenda.” The governor added, “It is my duty to hold Florida’s elected officials to the highest standards for the people of Florida.”
