Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is struggling to reboot his presidential campaign, suspended the state’s only Black female state prosecutor, claiming that she’s soft on crime. But the governor’s critics say it was a political move that disregards the will of voters.

The Associated Press reports that DeSantis announced Wednesday (Aug. 9) that he suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which serves the Orlando area.

“It is my duty as governor to ensure that the laws enacted by our duly elected legislature are followed,” DeSantis said during the news conference, adding, “The people of Central Florida deserve to have a state attorney who will seek justice in accordance with the law instead of allowing violent criminals to roam the streets and find new victims.”

Five days earlier, suspected criminal Daton Viel allegedly shot and injured two Orlando police officers during a traffic stop, The Washington Post reported. SWAT officers later fatally shot Viel, 28, who had a long criminal record. He was released on bond after an arrest in March for sexual assault of a child.

The situation prompted the local police union to call Worrell “soft on crime.” But Worrell defended her office, responding that the courts make bond decisions.

DeSantis appointed Orange County Judge Andrew Bain, a Republican, to replace Worrell in the heavily Democratic district.

In a sharp response, Worrell suggested her suspension was politically motivated.

“He needed to get back in the media in some positive way that would be red meat for his base, and he will have accomplished that today,” she said, according to the AP. “He replaced his campaign manager yesterday, and I guess today it’s my turn.”

CNN reported that DeSantis received glowing coverage from conservative outlets last year after he suspended State Attorney Andrew Warren, a twice-elected Tampa-area Democrat. Warren had vowed not to enforce the state’s new strict abortion law that DeSantis spearheaded.

In Worrell’s case, Fox News published a story on her suspension by the time DeSantis made the public announcement.

Worrell, a liberal prosecutor, was elected in 2020 with 66 percent of the vote. In her campaign, she pledged to pursue a path of “restorative justice.” Worrell said the crime rate has decreased in Orlando since she took office.

The suspended prosecutor is getting support from Black lawmakers in Congress.

“The Congressional Black Caucus stands committed to offering our support and united voices to help State Attorney Worrell in this unjust fight. Her removal is yet another marker in the long, conservative waged war against the will of Black people in the State of Florida, and we will not stand by as it happens,” the CBC said in a statement sent to BET.com.