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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDeSantis to face trial for suspension of prosecutor who defied abortion ban law
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/23/ron-desantis-andrew-warren-abortion-ban-lawsuit-trialNo paywall
https://archive.ph/uxALW
A Florida prosecutor suspended by Ron DeSantis for defying a new 15-week abortion law says a federal judges decision to send his reinstatement appeal to trial means a reckoning is coming for the states Republican governor.
Andrew Warren, a Democrat, was removed as Hillsborough county state attorney on 4 August after saying he would not enforce the abortion ban or prosecute providers of gender transition treatment for young people.
DeSantis cited Warrens alleged woke agenda in reasons for his decision.
At a hearing in Tallahassee on Monday, Judge Robert Hinkle denied motions from DeSantis to dismiss Warrens lawsuit, and another by Warren seeking an immediate return to office, instead requesting their differences be settled at a trial in the coming weeks.
The governor now has to answer it to a court of law where facts matter and where you have to tell the truth, Warren said in an interview with the Guardian.
Its a victory for the truth. A federal judge has ruled that the governor has to come into court to explain the reasons behind my suspension, to show that it wasnt political, to show that it wasnt in violation of my free speech rights, to show that it wasnt in violation of the voters rights to have the state attorney of their choice.
*snip*
RKP5637
(67,102 posts)spooky3
(34,433 posts)Where accountability is finally going to happen?
pazzyanne
(6,546 posts)I've been hoping that justice would see the light of day for years!
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)gohuskies
(1,156 posts)For illegally flying asylum seeking migrants interstate with state taxpayer dollars.
elleng
(130,861 posts)the truth, Warren said in an interview with the Guardian.
Sky Jewels
(7,061 posts)How will DeSantis ever become Dictator of Amurika if he's held accountable for his actions?!?!
peppertree
(21,621 posts)Sky Jewels
(7,061 posts)and shack up together in Orban's guest room. I'm thinking bunk beds...
Might make a good sitcom, too.
peppertree
(21,621 posts)Sky Jewels
(7,061 posts)I'll have to watch. I heart Eric Idle so much.
peppertree
(21,621 posts)Robbie Coltrane would play a great Trump too.
Sky Jewels
(7,061 posts)ificandream
(9,361 posts)In It to Win It
(8,231 posts)ancianita
(36,017 posts)The governor is entrusted by the people of Florida to utilize his constitutional powers and may suspend elected officials in Florida who refuse to enforce the law, DeSantiss office said in a statement following Mondays hearing.
Critics, however, have accused the governor of selective application of the principle. The Orlando Sentinel noted that DeSantis has taken no action against so-called constitutional sheriffs who say they wont enforce certain gun laws.
But he did act in 2019, suspending the Broward county sheriff, Scott Israel, a Democrat, for neglect of duty.
Warren said he believed a trial, which could begin as early as next month, would cut through any political posturing.
This has always been a fight for democracy, and rule of law, and for elections, he said.
This is our fight for the truth. And now the people will get the truth because the governor is being forced to explain himself...
DeSantis to face trial for suspension of prosecutor who defied abortion ban law
Andrew Warren, a Democrat, sued Florida governor for suspension after saying he would not enforce new 15-week abortion law
Hillsborough county state attorney Andrew Warren talks to the media after being suspended by Florida governor Ron DeSantis in Tampa, on 4 August.
The Hillsborough county state attorney, Andrew Warren, talks to the media after being suspended by Florida governor Ron DeSantis in Tampa, on 4 August. Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters
Richard Luscombe
@richlusc
Fri 23 Sep 2022 04.00 EDT
A Florida prosecutor suspended by Ron DeSantis for defying a new 15-week abortion law says a federal judges decision to send his reinstatement appeal to trial means a reckoning is coming for the states Republican governor.
Andrew Warren, a Democrat, was removed as Hillsborough county state attorney on 4 August after saying he would not enforce the abortion ban or prosecute providers of gender transition treatment for young people.
DeSantis cited Warrens alleged woke agenda in reasons for his decision.
At a hearing in Tallahassee on Monday, Judge Robert Hinkle denied motions from DeSantis to dismiss Warrens lawsuit, and another by Warren seeking an immediate return to office, instead requesting their differences be settled at a trial in the coming weeks.
The governor now has to answer it to a court of law where facts matter and where you have to tell the truth, Warren said in an interview with the Guardian.
Its a victory for the truth. A federal judge has ruled that the governor has to come into court to explain the reasons behind my suspension, to show that it wasnt political, to show that it wasnt in violation of my free speech rights, to show that it wasnt in violation of the voters rights to have the state attorney of their choice.
The closely watched case is expected to give clarity to DeSantiss power to purge elected officials who disagree with him. In recent weeks, the governor has also removed four members of a school board in Broward county that defied him over Covid-19 mask mandates.
The governor is entrusted by the people of Florida to utilize his constitutional powers and may suspend elected officials in Florida who refuse to enforce the law, DeSantiss office said in a statement following Mondays hearing.
Critics, however, have accused the governor of selective application of the principle. The Orlando Sentinel noted that DeSantis has taken no action against so-called constitutional sheriffs who say they wont enforce certain gun laws.
But he did act in 2019, suspending the Broward county sheriff, Scott Israel, a Democrat, for neglect of duty.
Warren said he believed a trial, which could begin as early as next month, would cut through any political posturing.
This has always been a fight for democracy, and rule of law, and for elections, he said.
This is our fight for the truth. And now the people will get the truth because the governor is being forced to explain himself.
Ultimately, he may be called to testify in court. The court was pretty clear that it wants to hear from the governor in terms of the explanations about the suspension to make sure that the reasons why I was suspended are consistent with Florida law, and with federal law.
Warren said his reinstatement was not the sole objective of his lawsuit.
I would have liked to be back in office already but theres more at stake than just my job, he said.
Regardless of what party you belong to, or who you vote for, yours always matters. No elected official has the right to throw out anyones vote. And the governor here has tried to throw out the votes of hundreds of thousands of Floridians and overturn an election.
If he gets away with it, whats left of our democracy? Whats the point of having elections?
ShazzieB
(16,357 posts)I don't understand how Floriduh, or ANY state, can have laws that enable the governor to just remove public officials for disagreeing with him. It's SO grossly undemocratic. I hope this trial will put a stop to this autocratic behavior.
Kaleva
(36,294 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,320 posts)lindysalsagal
(20,653 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(145,106 posts)Link to tweet
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/23/ron-desantis-andrew-warren-abortion-ban-lawsuit-trial
The governor now has to answer it to a court of law where facts matter and where you have to tell the truth, Warren said in an interview with the Guardian.
Its a victory for the truth. A federal judge has ruled that the governor has to come into court to explain the reasons behind my suspension, to show that it wasnt political, to show that it wasnt in violation of my free speech rights, to show that it wasnt in violation of the voters rights to have the state attorney of their choice.
The closely watched case is expected to give clarity to DeSantiss power to purge elected officials who disagree with him. In recent weeks, the governor has also removed four members of a school board in Broward county that defied him over Covid-19 mask mandates.
The governor is entrusted by the people of Florida to utilize his constitutional powers and may suspend elected officials in Florida who refuse to enforce the law, DeSantiss office said in a statement following Mondays hearing.....
Warren ran as a progressive when he unseated long-term incumbent Republican Mark Ober as Hillsborough county state attorney in 2016, and was re-elected with 53% of the vote four years later.
He immediately set about enacting policies that upset conservatives, the Tampa Bay Times reported, including a pledge to introduce programs to rehabilitate convicts and prevent recidivism.
According to Tampas Fox13, Susan Lopez, whom DeSantis appointed in Warrens place, has already reversed several of his policies, including the reinstatement of a controversial law enforcement bike-stop measure that critics say unfairly targets minorities.