MIAMI — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fired Tampa’s top prosecutor Thursday, charging him with incompetence and dereliction of duty as he vowed not to prosecute those who seek or perform abortions.
Mr. DeSantis, a Republican, ousted Andrew H. Warren, the Hillsborough County state’s attorney-elect. In June, Mr. Warren, a Democrat, joined 83 elected prosecutors nationwide who pledged not to prosecute those who seek or perform abortions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Florida imposed a 15-week abortion ban in April.
Mr. DeSantis said the statement and other actions by Mr. Warren — including a policy of not prosecuting crimes that begin with a collision between police officers and someone riding a bicycle or on foot and engaging in a non-criminal offense — amounted to “incompetence and willful insubordination of his duties” and that the prosecutor’s approach to the job left him with no choice but to remove him.
Mr. DeSantis appeared at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, where he was surrounded by a group of uniformed sheriffs and police officers. Law enforcement officials expressed frustration with Mr. Warren for not prosecuting some crimes. “Andrew Warren is a fraud,” said Brian Duggan, former chief of the Tampa Police Department.
The governor’s shock decision immediately raised concerns among Democrats, who say he is getting tougher.
Mr. Warren did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This developing story will be updated.
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