Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended Orlando’s top prosecutor, once again exercising his executive power over local government in addressing a controversial issue in the 2024 presidential race.

It is the second time that DeSantis, a Republican, has impeached a Democratic prosecutor and follows an investigation that began when a teenager was accused of fatally shooting a television reporter and a 9-year-old girl.

It is my duty as governor to ensure that the laws enacted by our duly elected legislature are enforced, DeSantis said at a press conference in Tallahassee announcing State Atty’s suspension. Monique Worrell of the 9th Judicial Circuit, serving Orange and Osceola counties.

Worrell vowed to seek re-election next year, saying her removal was political and not for her performance. She also suggested DeSantis’s timing was to distract from a stagnant presidential campaign dealing with layoffs and changes at the top as it struggled to regain traction.

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He needed to get media exposure in a positive way, that would be red meat for his base and he will have achieved that today, she said. He replaced his campaign manager yesterday and I think it’s my turn today.

The DeSantis agency began investigating Worrell after 19-year-old Keith Moses was charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Spectrum News 13 reporters Dylan Lyons, Nathacha Augustin, and 9-year-old Tyonna Major. The girl’s mother and Spectrum News 13 photographer Jesse Walden were also shot.

Shortly after the shooting, DeSantis’ general counsel said in a letter to Worrell that she had not held Moses accountable despite his criminal record and gang membership. The governor’s office looked up Moses’ juvenile files, which are usually protected.

In his announcement on Wednesday, DeSantis cited other matters, saying that Worrell was avoiding minimum mandatory sentences on charges of gun crimes, drug trafficking and child pornography. He also said the prosecution had a pattern of letting minors avoid serious charges or incarceration and noted the weekend shooting of two Orlando police officers, for which by a 28-year-old man with a long criminal record.

But Democrats said

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Worrell’s suspension was politically motivated, noting that she is the only black woman elected to serve as a state attorney in Florida.

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This is absolutely disgusting,” said Anna Eskamani, the Democratic Representative. Her removal is a complete slap in the face to the residents of Orange and Osceola County and another example of how Governor DeSantis is eroding our local control and democracy. This politically motivated action of the governor in a mostly Democratic part of the state should alarm everyone.

DeSantis removed State Atty last year. Andrew Warren, a twice-elected Democrat in Tampa, for signing pledges that he will not bring criminal charges against seekers or providers of abortion or sex reassignment treatments, as well as policies not to press charges for certain minor crimes.

The governor appointed Andrew Bain, an Orange County judge, to replace Worrell. Bain previously served as an assistant state attorney in Orlando.

The residents of Central Florida deserve to have a prosecutor who seeks justice in accordance with the law rather than allowing violent criminals to roam the streets seeking new victims, DeSantis said.

Bain, a Republican, said the job is pretty straightforward. He said: We are here to prosecute crimes and hold people accountable.

Worrell said she knows and respects Bain and wouldn’t criticize him, adding that the issue is about DeSantis.

Elected officials are removed from office for political reasons and that should never be a thing, she said.

Frisaro reports from Fort Lauderdale.