ST. PETERSURG, Fla. — A Florida prosecutor vowed Sunday to fight his suspension from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis over his promise of him not to enforce the state’s 15-week abortion ban and support for gender transition treatments for minors.
Andrew Warren, a Democrat suspended last week from his twice-elected post as state attorney in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, said in a Facebook video message and news release Sunday he plans a “vigorous defense” by his legal team but did not give specifics.
“I’m not going down without a fight,” Warren said on the video. “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.”
Warren was suspended Thursday by DeSantis, a Republican seeking re-election in November and potential 2024 presidential candidate, who cited neglect of duty and other alleged violations. The governor contended that’s because Warren signed statements with dozens of other prosecutors nationwide vowing not to pursue criminal cases against people who seek or provide abortions or gender transition treatments.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Warren over various allegations. AP/Chris O’Meara
Warren contended Sunday the governor was essentially seeking to nullify the will of voters in the Tampa area who elected him in 2016 and 2020.
ST. PETERSURG, Fla. — A Florida prosecutor vowed Sunday to fight his suspension from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis over his promise of him not to enforce the state’s 15-week abortion ban and support for gender transition treatments for minors.
Andrew Warren, a Democrat suspended last week from his twice-elected post as state attorney in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, said in a Facebook video message and news release Sunday he plans a “vigorous defense” by his legal team but did not give specifics.
“I’m not going down without a fight,” Warren said on the video. “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.”
Warren was suspended Thursday by DeSantis, a Republican seeking re-election in November and potential 2024 presidential candidate, who cited neglect of duty and other alleged violations. The governor contended that’s because Warren signed statements with dozens of other prosecutors nationwide vowing not to pursue criminal cases against people who seek or provide abortions or gender transition treatments.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Warren over various allegations. AP/Chris O’Meara
Warren contended Sunday the governor was essentially seeking to nullify the will of voters in the Tampa area who elected him in 2016 and 2020.
Former President Donald Trump strongly indicated he is preparing to run for president and suggested an announcement will come soon.
Trump, who has repeatedly said that he’s made a decision on the 2024 race, was asked by Fox News Digital at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas when Republicans could expect a formal announcement.
“It’s certainly not a very long period, the time is coming,” said the former president. “I think people are going to be very happy, our country has never been in a position like this, we’ve lost everything.”
Trump said that America was facing both domestic and foreign policy crises. In particular, I have argued the country’s “prestige” had been damaged by President Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“Our country has never been at a worse point,” said Trump. “They gave away $85 billion worth of equipment, dead soldiers, you still have Americans over there probably as hostages, eventually will be hostages, there has never been a time like this.
“We’ll be making an announcement in the not too distant future,” Trump added.
Trump has repeatedly said that he’s made a decision on the 2024 race.Yuki Iwamura for NYPost
The remarks came shortly after CPAC unveiled its straw poll showing Trump as the overwhelming favorite for the 2024 GOP nomination among the conservative grassroots. Trump captured nearly 70% of the ballots cast at the conference, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis coming in at a distant second at 23.7%.
Since leaving the White House in January 2021, Trump has maintained an active presence within the Republican Party.
The former president has endorsed an expansive list of candidates running for everything from local and state offices to the United States Senate.
Trump said that America was facing both domestic and foreign policy crises.Yuki Iwamura for NYPost
Former President Donald Trump handily won the Conservative Political Action Conference’s 2024 straw poll, indicating he remains the first choice of Republican activists for the party’s presidential nomination.
The final numbers, released Saturday at the conference in Dallas, showed Trump out in front with 69% support.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in a distant second with 24%, while Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) followed in third with 2% — a dozen other candidates including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Florida Sen. Rick Scott all received 1% or less.
The results of the straw poll show Trump is CPAC attendees’ choice for 2024. REUTERSThe results of the CPAC straw poll on Trump’s running mate.REUTERSNearly all of the attendees approved of Trump’s job as president.Morry Gash/APTrump has routinely dominated CPAC straw polls since leaving office.Yuki Iwamura for New York Post
A whopping 99% of conference attendees said they approved of Trump’s job as president.
DeSantis — who did not attend the conservative confab in Dallas — was the odds-on favorite among CPAC attendees should Trump decline to seek the nomination, with a large plurality of attendees also saying he would be the best choice to serve as a potential vice president for Trump.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in a distant second with 24%. AP
The results show that despite being banned from Twitter and fading from national headlines, the former president would remain the odds-on favorite to win the nomination in November should he decide to run.
Trump has routinely dominated CPAC straw polls since leaving office and Saturday’s results tracks previous surveys.
“No Republican can stop Trump from the nomination; no Democrat can stop Trump from the presidency,” former White House counselor Steve Bannon told The Post.
The Florida state attorney suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis insisted Friday that he still has a job — but the Republican governor’s office said he ca n’t even get into his old office.
Andrew Warren, who served as Hillsborough County’s top prosecutor until DeSantis announced his Thursday, insisted to CBS that he was still on the job.
“He does not have the authority to suspend me,” he told the network, adding that “the people elected me to serve in this position and I am going to continue doing it to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Warren asserted that the move was “unconstitutional” and that he refused to recognize its legitimacy.
Those comments drew a Twitter rebuke from DeSantis spokesperson Christina Pushaw Friday, who said Warren was being “delusional.”
“Andrew Warren tells the media that he is still the State Attorney because he identifies as a State Attorney,” she wrote. “Sorry but that doesn’t fly here. In Florida we live in the real world. His badge from him wo n’t even work to access his former office from him today. ”
DeSantis said he removed Warren because he wasn’t prosecuting serious crimes and had pledged to ignore current or future restrictions on abortion or gender-reassignment surgeries on minors.
Former Florida State Attorney Andrew Warren insisted that Gov. Ron DeSantis does not have the authority to suspend him.Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via APDeSantis claimed he suspended Warren because he was not prosecuting criminals.Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP
“We are not going to allow the pathogen that’s been around the country of ignoring the law, we are not going to allow that to get a foothold here in the state of Florida,” the governor said Thursday. “We are going to make sure our laws are enforced and no individual prosecutor puts himself above the law.”
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister backed the suspension, asserting that local law enforcement had grown frustrated with what they viewed as Warren’s prosecutorial leniency.
Warren has ripped his removal, arguing that his office has not handled any cases related to abortion or gender-reassignment surgeries and that he was being punished for hypothetical misconduct.
A Florida governor’s office spokesperson claimed that Warren can no longer access his old office.REUTERS/Octavio JonesWarren called the decision to suspend him “unconstitutional.” Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP
DeSantis has repeatedly blasted progressive DAs in cities like New York and Los Angeles, arguing that they’ve allowed crime to spiral.
Warren was scrubbed from the state attorney’s website shortly after his suspension as DeSantis appointed Susan Lopez to take his place.
The Florida state attorney suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis insisted Friday that he still has a job — but the Republican governor’s office said he ca n’t even get into his old office.
Andrew Warren, who served as Hillsborough County’s top prosecutor until DeSantis announced his Thursday, insisted to CBS that he was still on the job.
“He does not have the authority to suspend me,” he told the network, adding that “the people elected me to serve in this position and I am going to continue doing it to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Warren asserted that the move was “unconstitutional” and that he refused to recognize its legitimacy.
Those comments drew a Twitter rebuke from DeSantis spokesperson Christina Pushaw Friday, who said Warren was being “delusional.”
“Andrew Warren tells the media that he is still the State Attorney because he identifies as a State Attorney,” she wrote. “Sorry but that doesn’t fly here. In Florida we live in the real world. His badge from him wo n’t even work to access his former office from him today. ”
DeSantis said he removed Warren because he wasn’t prosecuting serious crimes and had pledged to ignore current or future restrictions on abortion or gender-reassignment surgeries on minors.
Former Florida State Attorney Andrew Warren insisted that Gov. Ron DeSantis does not have the authority to suspend him.Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via APDeSantis claimed he suspended Warren because he was not prosecuting criminals.Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP
“We are not going to allow the pathogen that’s been around the country of ignoring the law, we are not going to allow that to get a foothold here in the state of Florida,” the governor said Thursday. “We are going to make sure our laws are enforced and no individual prosecutor puts himself above the law.”
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister backed the suspension, asserting that local law enforcement had grown frustrated with what they viewed as Warren’s prosecutorial leniency.
Warren has ripped his removal, arguing that his office has not handled any cases related to abortion or gender-reassignment surgeries and that he was being punished for hypothetical misconduct.
A Florida governor’s office spokesperson claimed that Warren can no longer access his old office.REUTERS/Octavio JonesWarren called the decision to suspend him “unconstitutional.” Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP
DeSantis has repeatedly blasted progressive DAs in cities like New York and Los Angeles, arguing that they’ve allowed crime to spiral.
Warren was scrubbed from the state attorney’s website shortly after his suspension as DeSantis appointed Susan Lopez to take his place.
The office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to make a “major” announcement Thursday morning, a spokesperson said.
Taking to Twitter Wednesday night, DeSantis’ press secretary Christina Pushaw teased the impact of the announcement and said it will cause the “liberal media meltdown of the year.”
“MAJOR announcement tomorrow morning from @GovRonDeSantis. Prepare for the liberal media meltdown of the year,” Pushaw wrote. “Everyone gets some rest tonight.”
Some people immediately began speculating if the announcement concerns the 2024 presidential election, as the Florida governor is well-liked among Republican voters.
DeSantis consistently tops polls of potential 2024 Republican candidates, usually just behind former President Donald Trump.
After a user mentioned DeSantis’ lead in internal polling, Pushaw responded that the announcement would be an official one, not about his campaign.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will make an announcement Thursday morning, according to his spokesperson. AP
In another tweet, Pushaw confirmed DeSantis is seeking re-election in Florida. A potential 2024 announcement would be particularly early and it would require DeSantis to be accountable to the Federal Elections Commission between now and Election Day.
Another user asked if DeSantis would be traveling to Taiwan, in light of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to the region.
“He’s focused on Florida as always!” Pushaw responded.
DeSantis consistently tops polls of potential 2024 Republican candidates, only having to place behind Trump.Getty Images
Several other users who commented speculated that the decision could have to do with him officially joining Trump’s 2024 ticket as vice president, banning masks in Florida, a lawsuit against President Joe Biden or even succession from the US.
Many users expressed interest in finding out whatever the announcement will ultimately be.
DeSantis’ popularity among Republican voters across the country has surged over the past two and a half years, as he relentlessly pushed back against COVID-19 restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic – as well as his open defiance of culture wars.
