State Attorney Monique Worrell responds to rumors regarding her removal from office
ORLANDO, Fla. —
State Attorney Monique Worrell held a news conference in Orlando Tuesday in which she addressed rumors regarding her removal from office.
>> Watch: State Attorney Monique Worrell holds news conference in Orlando
Worrell has faced criticism in recent months in the case of a DeLand double murder and accusations of “sweetheart” deals for violent offenders.
>> Related: State Attorney defends office after criticism in DeLand double murder case
Last year, 10 months into her second term as state attorney, Worrell defended her record amid concerns Gov. Ron DeSantis could suspend her a second time.
The twice-elected top prosecutor in the 9th Judicial Circuit called on Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to stop making what she said were “dangerous and defamatory” statements about her.
In the five-page letter obtained by WESH 2 that Worrell sent Uthmeier last year, she accuses him of “intentional misrepresentation and interference” in six specific cases being handled by her office.
>> Related: State Attorney Worrell calls on Florida attorney general to stop ‘campaign of misinformation’
Uthmeier was criticizing Worrell’s decision to charge Tina Allgeo with second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon during a road rage incident in 2024 on Orlando’s East Colonial Drive.
>> Related: Prosecutors drop murder charge against woman accused in deadly Orange County road-rage shooting
First suspension
In 2023, Worrell was suspended after claims citing neglect of duty.
>> Related: Gov. DeSantis suspends State Attorney Monique H. Worrell, citing neglect of duty
DeSantis made the announcement, saying Worrell’s criminal justice administration has been “clearly and fundamentally derelict, to constitute both neglect of duty and incompetence.”
The formal reasons for the 2023 suspension, implemented by executive order, were as follows:
Pattern or practice to avoid minimum mandatory sentences for gun crimesPattern or practice to avoid minimum mandatory sentences for drug trafficking offensesPattern or practice allowing juvenile offenders to avoid serious charges and incarcerationPattern or practice to avoid minimum mandatory to avoid valid applicable sentencing enhancementsPattern or practice limiting charges for child pornography offensesPattern or practice for seeking withholding of adjudication in situations not permitted under Florida law
DeSantis stressed that prosecutors do have discretion on which cases to bring and which not to.
“What this state attorney has done is abuse that discretion, and effectively nullified laws in the state of Florida,” he said in 2023.
Worrell, during the news conference Tuesday, said she will continue to do her job, but the last time she was told her removal was going to occur, it was only a matter of weeks.