Ousted FL State Attorney Says He's Not Going Down Without A Fight

TAMPA, FL — Ousted Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren said he's not going down without a fight.

In a video released Sunday, Warren said he was "blindsided" when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis "illegally" removed him from office Thursday. As further humiliation, Warren said DeSantis sent an armed deputy to escort him from his downtown Tampa office.

"Ron DeSantis is trying to overthrow democracy in Florida. His plot to suspend me blatantly violates the most fundamental basis of our democracy," Warren said in a statement to Patch. "He is trying to overturn the results of a fair and free election and abusing his power to serve his own political ambition."

Warren said he's being targeted by DeSantis for his opposing political views on various topics including abortion and LGBTQ rights.

Since he was ousted from office, Warren has launched a crusade to discredit DeSantis, appearing on national news shows around the country.

"This is Orwellian thought police where I'm being punished for not enforcing a law that doesn't even exist yet," Warren told MSNBC political commentator Joy Ann Reid.

Warren isn't alone in his fight. Politicians, including U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist and Kathy Castor, the Florida Senate’s top-ranking Democrat, Lauren Book, along with voters, talk show hosts and commentators from around the country are speaking out on his behalf.

The Republican governor, however, defended his decision again Monday, saying there was nothing political about suspending Warren, a Democrat, from office.

In a statement sent to Patch, DeSantis maintained that "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, It is my duty to hold Florida’s elected officials to the highest standards for the people of Florida."

See related stories:

• DeSantis Suspends Hillsborough State Attorney For 'Neglect Of Duty'
• Death Penalty Sought In Fatal Stabbing Of Ruskin School Teacher

Specifically, DeSantis stated in an executive order that he was suspending Warren "due to neglect of duty, incompetence and willful defiance of his duties as early as June 2021 when he signed a joint statement with other elected prosecutors in support of gender-transition treatments for children and bathroom usage based on gender identity."

In the executive order of suspension, DeSantis defined "neglect of duty" as the "failure on the part of a public officer to do and perform some duty or duties laid on him as such by virtue of his office or which is required of him by law."

In the same document, however, DeSantis acknowledged the Florida Legislature has not enacted any laws regarding gender-transition treatments for children or bathroom usage that Warren has failed to uphold.

In announcing Warren's removal from office, DeSantis also took Warren to task for signing a pledge not to prosecute doctors and women involved in abortions that violated the state’s 15-week ban.

He also asserted that Warren is soft on crime, accusing him of instituting a policy to "knowingly permit criminal activity and prefer no charges."

He said the charge against Warren for "neglect of duty" was "sufficiently based on the prosecutor's alleged unwillingness to prosecute gambling offenses."

Warren said his record speaks for itself.

"We have fought for public safety, fairness and justice," he said. "We've aggressively prosecuted murderers, rapists and any criminal who keeps parents like me awake at night. I was elected because the people of this county share my vision for criminal justice, trust my judgment, and have seen our success."

He said this is borne out in Hillsborough County's crime statistics during his two terms in office.

"In our community, crime is low, rights are protected, and we've invested in safety," he said. "I swore to uphold the constitution, and that's exactly what I've done.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement statistics show that crime has dropped significantly in Hillsborough County during the past five years, Warren said.

He used those statistics to take a jab at Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who, along with Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, joined DeSantis at his news conference Thursday to announce Warren's dismissal. Both sheriffs applauded the governor's decision.

“Our crime rate has gone down every year since I’ve been in office; it’s down 30 percent,” said Warren. “In fact, it’s lower than some of those surrounding counties where the sheriff’s moseyed on into Hillsborough to join the governor at his press conference.”

Warren accused DeSantis of attempting to circumvent the will of the people.

"DeSantis is trying to take away my job for doing my job. He came down to Tampa — to Hillsborough County — to illegally remove me as part of some political circus. He did it because he wants to throw women and their doctors in jail based on a law that has already been found to violate Florida's constitution. He did it because he wants to enforce a law that discriminates against our LGBTQ community — a law that at this point doesn't even exist."

Warren said this isn't the first time the governor has abused his authority and overridden the will of the people of Florida.

"Ron DeSantis doesn't get to handpick Florida's state attorneys. You, the people, do," Warren said. "We have all seen the consequences of politicians who think they are above the law and can do whatever they want. That's why DeSantis and his abuse of power must be stopped."

He added that if it results in a court battle, so be it.

"Let me be clear: I'm not going down without a fight. I'm a former federal prosecutor, the duly-elected state attorney, a native Floridian and a proud American," Warren said. "I refuse to let this man trample on your freedoms, to speak your mind, to make your own health care decisions and to have your vote count."

Following a hectic five days of defending himself, Warren said it was his youngest daughter who reminded him why he is fighting.

"I just had a few minutes with my younger daughter. She asked about life on other planets and traveling to space," he said. "Amazing to have an 8-year-old remind you what matters and why we must defend democracy."