Andrew Warren, who served as Hillsborough County’s top district attorney until DeSandis announced his ouster 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 will continue to do so to keep our neighborhoods safe.” Warren argued that the move was “unconstitutional” and refused to recognize its legality. Those comments prompted a rebuke on Twitter from DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw Friday, who said Warren was “delusional.” “Andrew Warren is telling the media that he is still the State’s Attorney because he identifies as the State’s Attorney,” he wrote. “Sorry, but that doesn’t fly here. In Florida we live in the real world. His badge won’t even work to access his former office today.” DeSantis said he removed Warren because no serious crimes were being prosecuted and he had pledged to ignore current or future restrictions on abortion or sex-reassignment surgery on minors. Former Florida state attorney general 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 for not prosecuting criminals. Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP “We’re not going to allow the pathogen that’s around the country to ignore the law, we’re not going to allow it to establish itself here in the state of Florida,” the governor said Thursday. “We will make sure our laws are enforced and no individual prosecutor puts himself above the law.” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister supported the suspension, arguing that local law enforcement had become frustrated with what they saw as Warren’s prosecutorial leniency. Warren dismissed his removal, arguing that his office has not handled cases related to abortions or sex-reassignment surgeries and that he was being punished for alleged misconduct. A spokesman for the Florida governor’s office claimed Warren can no longer access his old office. REUTERS/Octavio Jones Warren 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 they have allowed crime to rise. Warren was removed from the state attorney’s office shortly after his suspension as DeSantis appointed Susan Lopez to take his place.
