In a recent interview with AL Ferguson, Andrew Warren, the former Hillsborough County State Attorney in Florida, discussed his suspension from office by Governor Ron DeSantis and the dangerous path that Florida is heading down.
Warren was suspended from his position in January 2021, after Governor DeSantis accused him of mishandling a case involving a Black Lives Matter protest. However, a judge later ruled that the suspension was illegal and a political hit job by the governor.
During the interview, Warren spoke about the governor’s tactics of coming after anyone who disagrees with him, including the transgender community, businesses, and even school board members and teachers. He noted that this type of behavior is not what freedom and democracy are about.
“The free state of Florida is only free if you believe and agree with everything that King Ron DeSantis says, and that is not the way freedom works. That is not what Florida is about. That is a very dangerous path we are on,” Warren said.
Ferguson also asked Warren about his experience receiving an email informing him of his suspension, and if he felt embarrassed or had to evaluate if he had done something wrong. Warren replied that it was frustrating because he knew the truth from the beginning and it took months for the truth to come out.
“It’s refreshing to know that a judge came out and told everybody what we had known from the beginning, that this was an illegal suspension and a political hit job,” Warren said.
The interview also touched on the larger issue of governors being able to suspend elected officials, particularly state attorneys. Warren emphasized that it doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican, Democrat, or independent, if you care about free speech, elections, and the rule of law, then this type of behavior is wrong and offensive to democracy.
Warren’s suspension has received overwhelming support from diverse communities, including LGBT, women, Black, and faith diversity groups. He noted that one of the most reassuring things for him has been the number of people who have come up to him and said they didn’t vote for him but believe his suspension was wrong.
Overall, Warren’s interview highlights the importance of standing up for democracy and fundamental values, regardless of political affiliation. As he noted, “if you care about our rights and freedom, that gives me hope for the future in our state.”
