The suspension of elected prosecutor Andrew Warren won’t be considered in the FL Senate for awhile

Andrew Warren’s suspension from public office won’t be considered by the Florida Senate until court challenges expire, Florida Senate Wilton Simpson wrote in a letter to senators Wednesday.

“The Senate process shall be held in abeyance and the matter shall not be considered by the Senate until final determination of a court challenge and the exhaustion of all appellate remedies,” the letter stated.

By then, Warren, who had been serving as an elected state attorney in Hillsborough County until Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended him, said in a Wednesday press conference that he would file a federal lawsuit over the governor’s actions.

His lawsuit asks the court to declare DeSantis’ executive order suspending Warren unconstitutional and to order the governor to reinstate him, among other efforts.

Simpson’s letter said, “Senate counsel notes the pending litigation challenges the entirety of the executive order. Therefore, the basis for any future Senate proceeding will be impacted by the current litigation. As such, I have directed that any Senate proceedings regarding Executive Order of Suspension 22-176 be held in abeyance until a final determination in this pending litigation has been rendered.”

Simpson also said in the letter that “senators should refrain from speaking publicly about the merits or substance of any executive suspension. Thank you for your attention to this important constitutional responsibility of the Senate.”

DeSantis had suspended Warren Aug. 4, accusing him of nullifying state laws through refusal to prosecute violent offenders and to enforce criminal penalties against doctors providing abortions or gender-affirming care, the Florida Phoenix wrote.