When his spokesman tweeted that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will make a “MAIN announcement” leading to the “free media crisis of the year”, which looks like it may have something to do with his presidential intentions.
It didn’t—and it did. DeSantis announced at a press conference that he is suspending Hillsborough County state attorney Andrew Warren, a duly elected Democrat involved in George Soros—Then continue to present yourself as the champion against all things ‘wake up’.
Warren’s selective prosecutions have earned him the reputation of being soft on crime. He has also indicated that he will not enforce restrictions on abortion and sex affirmation treatments against minors he considers to be unconstitutional of Florida.
“When you explicitly violate your oath of office, when you flout the law, you have violated your duty, you have neglected your duty, and you are showing respect,” DeSantis said. lack the capacity to be able to reform those tasks.
Interestingly, DeSantis seems most preoccupied with what Warren did that has nothing to do with violent crime.
“In June 2021, [Warren] DeSantis said he signed a letter saying he would not enforce any ban on transgender activity against minors. “And that’s a debate that we’re mainly dealing with administratively and through medical licensing in Florida, but other states have enacted penalties for people who will do those things, this really detracts from these kids. And he said it doesn’t matter what the legislature does in Florida.”
In other words, DeSantis removed an elected prosecutor for saying he wouldn’t enforce a law that didn’t even exist. But it allows DeSantis to once again bring up a public political issue of what he calls the “private department” of transgender children.
During the press conference, DeSantis invited Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister to the podium. Chronister critically praises the governor and condemns Warren, recounting a petty justice story involving a persecuted woman and gun felon suspected of murder and gang affiliation.
“Thank you, Governor, we are incredibly grateful to the state of Florida and all law enforcement agencies for having you,” said Chronister. “Governor DeSantis is holding state attorney Warren accountable.”
“It ignites in the face of the voters of Hillsborough County, who twice elected me to serve them, not Ron DeSantis.“
– Andrew Warren
But just two years ago, at another press conference, it was Chronister who stood beside Warren and blew the whistle for the arrest of a local pastor who insisted on holding in-person church services in violation of state and federal emergency COVID public health orders.
Chronister said of Ronald Howard-Browne, pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, “His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk. and thousands of residents can interact with them this week.
Warren added, “Make no mistake, this is about the health and safety of our community. Putting your parishioners in danger in a time of emergency like this is not only reckless but also against the law.”
In fact, Warren is a fan of Chronister, crossing party lines to praise the Republican sheriff in the 2018 election, saying, “Sheriff Chronister was a real partner in this. making Hillsborough County a safe place for our citizens. Most importantly, Sheriff Chronister is a trusted friend and advisor that I know our entire community can count on.”
At the time, Chronister expressed her gratitude to Warren, saying, “The State Attorney works closely with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office not only to prosecute criminals and seek justice for the victims. victims but also protect the rights of all our citizens. Having the support of State Attorney Andrew Warren was definitely a driving force behind our campaign. “
As the pandemic unfolded, these two elected law enforcement officials stood together to defend measures based on factual science. But just two days after Warren and Chronsiter jointly accused the pastor of endangering others, DeSantis signed an executive order that classifies houses of worship as “essential services” that waive the ban on public gatherings during the day. home.
Warren denounce DeSantis in the press, suggesting he may be “infatuated with powerful interests”, calling him “weak … spineless.”
However, the charges against the pastor were dropped. DeSantis questioned other COVID prevention measures, particularly including mask and vaccine mandates, disparaging them as challenges to our God-given freedoms. He continues to act as if COVID is nothing to worry about, even as the death toll from the pandemic in Florida reaches 77,823.
According to the final tally, the total number of deaths in Hillsborough from COVID during the pandemic was 3,978.
Now that toll collection has slowed and many imagine the pandemic is over, the big problem that seems everywhere is not COVID, but crime. And in suspending Warren on Thursday, DeSantis is looking to present himself in the face of a nationwide pandemic of lawlessness.
“We govern ourselves based on the constitutional system and the rule of law, but we have seen across this country over the past few years prosecutors self-regulate to determine what laws they prefer and will enforce. and which laws they don’t like, and then don’t enforce,” he said at the press conference. “And the results of this in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have been dire.”
DeSantis said he asked his staff to “look around the state of Florida and make sure that’s not going to happen here.” He said they “have spoken to law enforcement across the state… And all have come back to this area here in the 13th round of justice in Hillsborough County.”
The talk about specific crimes that went unsolved there came from Warren’s one-time teammate in the fight against COVID deaths, Chronister. He was followed by several other law enforcement figures who accused Warren of being too selective in his prosecutions.
“Andrew Warren is a fraud,” said former Tampa Sheriff Brian Dugan.
Warren scheduled a press conference for Thursday about a man named Robert DuBoise, who spent nearly four decades behind bars before being exonerated and released in 2020. Instead, Warren tweeted. response to DeSantis’ actions.
“Today’s political stunt is an illegal over-invasion that continues a pernicious pattern of Ron DeSantis of using his office to further his own political ambitions,” he tweeted. . “That is infuriating in the face of the voters of Hillsborough County, who twice elected me to serve them, not Ron DeSantis.”
Warren was most recently the choice of 53.4% of voters.
“Just because the governor violates your rights, doesn’t mean they don’t exist,” he added
